Effect of Ultisol Structural Development in Two Land Forms of South Eastern Nigeria

Edem I. Dennis^1, , Uduak C. Udo_Inyang¹ and Rosemary A. Essien²

¹Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

²Department of Crop Science, Akwa Ibom State University

Cite this paper

Edem I. Dennis, Uduak C. Udo_Inyang and Rosemary A. Essien. Effect of Ultisol Structural Development in Two Land Forms of South Eastern Nigeria. World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2013; 1(4):54-58. doi: 10.12691/WJAR-1-4-2

Abstract

Aggregate stability is an important factor in the functioning of soil. This is because it influences plant growth, root penetration, soil temperature, erosion and water transport and seedling emergence. Some soil characteristics play important role in improving soil aggregation and hence soil structure. Twelve soil profiles were sunk for the study. The relationship between structural indices; Mean weight diameter (MWD) and Water-stable aggregate from one side and some soil properties on the other side were assessed to compare the relative stable aggregates between the landforms. Structural development of CPS improved maize yield by 67.5% and cassava 35.3%. However, the linear regression results revealed that significant difference in the aggregate stability between the landforms was a function of organic C and hydrated iron oxides. Calcium contents also influence aggregation, but do not correlate well with any of the aggregation indices in these landforms. Moreover, the increase in sand and Na contents leads to dispersion of soil aggregate in the BRS and bad effect on soil drainage system and crop yield. Therefore, couple with high level of acidity, lime application in these soils would be antagonistic to aggregation, rather conservation farming is recommended.

Keywords

landform, crop yield, aggregate stability, erosion, mean weight diameter

Copyright

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