100090 Assessing Soil Quality Issues for Crop Production Function in Itapaji Watershed of Southwestern Nigeria: An Approach.
Poster Number 350-128
See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soils and Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Soils and Environmental Quality Poster II
Abstract:
The study was carried out in Itapaji watershed in Ikole local government area of Ekiti state, Nigeria. Diagnostic survey was carried out using participatory approach in which questionnaires were distributed and soil quality issues identified by farmers. These were further analysed to identify the soil quality issues from the farmers’ perspectives. For conventional method, major soil types in the watershed were identified using existing soil map while cluster soil sampling was carried out within the identified map units. Soil samples collected were analysed in the laboratory and soil quality issues were identified. The relationship between the soil issues from farmers’ interview and soil analysis were established by correlation analysis at α0.05.
Soil quality issues identified by farmers in the watershed are soil compaction by Fulani cattle, low soil fertility, termite infestation, crop wilt, hardpan formation, erosion, restricted drainage, high land use intensity and reduced fallow. Among these issues, low soil fertility was the most prominent with about 36.2 % impact on crop production in the watershed. Conventionally from soil survey and cluster analysis, CEC and organic matter are low which indicate low soil fertility; there is high acidity, shallow effective soil depth with presence of plinthite/hard pan. There was a high positive relationship (r = 0.70) between farmers’ perception of soil quality and the conventional method. This is an indication that farmer’s perspective in assessing soil quality is in line with conventional method in the watershed.
Keywords: Soil quality issues, participatory rural appraisal, conventional method, watershed
See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soils and Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Soils and Environmental Quality Poster II