Characterization, fertility capability and land suitability classifications for cassava production in Ugep-Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State – Nigeria
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Abstract
Ugep is famous for its annual ‘New Yam Festival’ which gives the people the opportunity to showcase their cultural heritage and agricultural produce. As the farmers attempt to meet-up with this annual-ritual, they continuously cultivate the soil resulting in soil nutrient exhaustion. This study characterized the major soil units in Ugep and focused on the fertility capability classification (FCC) as well as land suitability evaluation for cassava production. With the aid of the geology- and topo- maps, two profile pits were sunk in the soils over alluvium (AL), sandstone (ST) and dolerite (DO) resulting in six profiles. The results present loam, sandy loam and clay loam textures in the surface soils, while bulk density was < 1.8 Mgm-3 and organic carbon, available P and total N recorded 2.0-37.3 g/kg, 1.25-36.12 mg/kg and 0.1-2.1 g/kg, respectively. Exchangeable bases were comparatively higher in DO, with a rating of high for exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+, while exchangeable acidity was due to H+. FCC indicated L (loam-surface and subsurface) in AL with limitations due to low K reserve (k), CEC (e), organic carbon (m) and gleying. DO qualified as LC (Loam-surface and clay-subsurface) with limitations of high gravel (r) as well as k, e and m, while ST qualified as SL (sand-surface and loam-subsurface) and L (loam-surface
and subsurface) with limitations of k, e and m. By the parametric approach, current and potential aggregate suitability of moderately or highly suitable for ST had less limitations than marginally suitable classifications of AL for cassava production.
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