This study analyzed relationships between soil properties and food crop production in Ebonyi State of southeast Nigeria. Free survey was conducted after three zones (Agbaja, Akaeze and Ikwo) in the state were purposely selected for representation of the soil sampling. Two types of sampling were conducted; Auger sampling at 0 - 20 and 20 - 40 cm depths and soil profile sampling. Annual crop yield data on maize and cassava for the state from 1988 to 2017 were collected from Agriculture Development Program. Variations in properties among soil horizons were obtained using coefficient of variations while soil parameters were regressed against crop yields to establish their relationships. Results showed that fine sand, total sand, bulk density, total porosity, soil pH, and available phosphorus significantly (p = 0.05) differ from 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm depths. Also, cassava yield correlated negatively with base saturation, and organic matter at 0.05 probability level; with exchangeable Ca and Na at 0.01 probabilities level but correlated positively with bulk density and available water capacity at 0.01 and 0.05 probability levels, respectively. Similarly, maize yield correlated negatively with available phosphorus and total nitrogen at 0.05 probability level; and with total porosity and exchangeable Ca at 0.01 probability level; and then correlated positively with available water capacity, and bulk density, at 0.01 probability level; with coarse sand at 0.05 probability level. However, soils of Ebonyi State are fertile but some of the chemical properties are still low, therefore, it is paramount to improve the quality of the soil to achieve improved food security in the state.
References
[1]
Apata, T.G., Samuel, K.D. and Adeola, A.O. (2009) Analysis of Climate Change Perception and Adaptation among Arable Food Crop Farmers in South Western Nigeria. The International Association of Agricultural Economists’ 2009 Conference, Beijing, China, 16-22 August 2009.
[2]
Agboola, T. and Ojeleye, D. (2007) Climate Change and Food Crop Production in Ibadan, Nigeria. African Crop Science Conference Proceedings, 8, 1423-1433.
[3]
Chi-Chung, C., McCarl, B.A. and Schimmelpfennig, D. (2004) Yield Variability as Influenced by Climate: Statistical Investigation. Climate Change, 66, 239-261+204. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CLIM.0000043159.33816.e5
[4]
Lia, R. (1979) Physical Characteristic of Soil in the Tropics. In: Lar, R. and Greenland, D., Eds., Determination and Management, Willey and Sons, London, UK.
[5]
Ani, A.O. (2002) Factors Inhibiting Agricultural Projection among Rural Women Farmers in Southern Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
[6]
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) (2006) Guidelines for Soil Description. 4th Edition, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 97 p.
[7]
Gee, G.W. and Or, D. (2002) Particle Size Analysis. In: Dane, J.H. and Topp, D.C., Eds., Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 4. Physical Methods, ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI, 255-293.
[8]
Grossman, R.P. and Reinschi, T.G. (2002) Bulk Density and Linear Extensibility. In: Dane, J.H. and Topp, D.C., Eds., Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 4. Physical Methods, ASA and SSSA, Madison, WI, 201-228. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.4.c9
[9]
Foth, H.D. (1984) Fundamentals of Soil Science. 7th Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 435 p.
[10]
Hendershot, W.H., Laland, H. and Duquette, M, (1993) Soil Reaction and Exchangeable Acidity. In: Carter, M.R., Ed., Soil Sampling and Methods of Soil Analysis, Canadian Society of Soil Science, Lewis Publishers, London, 141-145.
[11]
Soil Survey Staff (2010) Keys to Soil Taxonomy. 11th Edition, USDA-NRCS, Washington DC, 338 p.
[12]
Soil Survey Staff (2003) Keys to Soil Taxonomy. 9th Edition, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington DC, 332 p.
[13]
Bremner, J.M. (1996) Nitrogen Total. In: Sparus, D.L., Ed., Methods of Soil Analysis Part 3, Chemical Methods, Volume 5, Soil Science Society of America Book Series, Madison, WI, 1085-1122.
[14]
Olson, R.S. and Sommers, L.E. (1982) Phosphorous. In: Page, A.L., Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R., Eds., Methods of Soil Analysis, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, 403-430.
[15]
Wilding, L.P., Bouma, J. and Boss, D.W. (1994) Impact of Spatial Variability on Interpretative Modeling. In: Bryant, R.B. and Arnold, R.W., Eds., Quantitative Modeling of Soil Forming Process, Volume 39, SSSA Special Publication, Madison, WI, 61-75.
[16]
Esu, I.E (1991) Detailed Soil Survey of NIHORT Farm at Bunkure, Kano State, Nigeria. Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
[17]
Iqbal, J., Thomasson, J.A., Jenkins, J.N., Owens, P.R. and Whisler, F.D. (2005) Spatial Variability Analysis of Soil Physical Properties of Alluvial Soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 69, 1338-1350. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.0154
[18]
Salako, F.K. (2003) Soil Physical Conditions in Nigeria Savannas and Biomass Production. A Lecture Given at the College on Soil Physics, Trieste.
[19]
Landon, J.R. (1991) Booker Tropical Soil Manual: A Handbook for Soil Survey and Agricultural Land Evaluation in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics. Addison Wesley Longman Limited, Essex, 472 p.
[20]
Ukaegbu, E.P. and Akamigbo, F.O.R. (2004) Influence of Physiography on the Properties and Land Use of Soils of the Cross River Plains: A Case Study of a Strip of Land at Ishiagu, Ebonyi State. In: Proceedings of the 29th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, 103-109.
[21]
Eshett, E.T., Omoeti, J.A.I. and Juo, A.S.R. (1990) Physico-Chemical Morphological and Clay Mineralogical Properties of Soils Overlying Basement Complex Rocks in Ogoja, Northern Cross River State of Nigeria. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 36, 203-214. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.1990.10414985
[22]
Onweremadu, E.U. (2007) Pedology of Near Gully Sites and Its Implications on the Erodibility of Soils of Central Southeastern Nigeria. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 1, 71-76. https://doi.org/10.3923/rjes.2007.71.76
[23]
Enplan Group (1981) Oramiriukwa River Project Report. Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority, Owerri.
[24]
Njoku, B.O. and Ogbuehi, S.N. (1982) Soil Fertility Aspects of Mealy Bug and Green Spider Control. In: Proceedings of the International Workshop on Control of Cassava Meal Bugs and Green Spider Mites, March 1982, 7-11.
[25]
Duguma, B., Kang, B.Y. and Okali, D.U.U. (1988) Effects of Liming and Phosphorus Application on Performance of Leucaene leucocephala in Acid Soils. Plant and Soil, 110, 57-61. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02143539
[26]
Osuji, G.E., Eshett, E.T., Oti. N.N. and Ibeawuchi, I.I. (2002) Land Use Practice and the Predisposition of Selected Watersheds in Imo State to Erosion. In: Proceedings of the 36th Annual Conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Federal University of Technology, Owerr, Nigeria, 397-401.
[27]
Ogbodo, E.N. (2013) The Fertility and Management Imperatives of the Degraded Upland Soils of Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 23, 168-177.
[28]
Onweremadu, E.U. (2012) Optimum Soil Nutrients: A Sine Qua Non for Sustainable Agriculture for Food and Nutrition Security. In: Miransari, M., Ed., Soil Nutrients, Nova Science Publishers Inc., New York, 215-265.
