Ejikeme and Nweke Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 6 (10), pp. 326-330, November 2016. ISSN: 2276-7770 Research Paper Manuscript Number: 102116189 (DOI: http://doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2016.10.102116189) Physical and Chemical Characterisation of Soils of Anambra State College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu Ejikeme CS1 and Nweke IA*2 1Anambra State College of Agriculture, Mgbakwu, Nigeria. 2Department of Soil Science, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria. Abstract The physical and chemical characterisation of Anambra State College of Agriculture at Mgbakwu, Awka North Local Government Area was conducted using composite samples from two representative profile pits. Six soil samples were collected from various depths, dried, sieved with 2 mm sieve and subjected to a routine soil analysis and the characteristics of the soils described. The findings from the study shows that the texture of the soils varied from loamy sand to sand clay loam, with the total sand ranging from 640 – 840 gkg-1, clay from 70 to 290 gkg-1 and silt 50 – 90 gkg-1. The soils reaction (pH) is extremely acidic to moderate, ranging from 4.1 to 5.8. The available phosphorous of the soils is very low, 1.87 to 3.73 mgkg-1. The exchangeable bases, organic matter, carbon, cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) and percentage nitrogen of the soils were observed to be low. Generally, the result of the study revealed that the nutrient elements tested were below their critical level and therefore need to be upgraded in soil nutrients through soil amendment to produce maximally. Keywords: Agriculture, chemical soil properties, Mgbakwu, physical soil properties. Return to Content View [Full Article – PDF] [Full Article – HTML] [Full Article – EPUB] Post-review Rundown View/get involved, click [Post-Review Page] References Akamigbo, F.O.R. (2010). Soils: Fundamental Methods of Soil Resources Survey, Classification, Interpretation and Application. University Book Shop Ltd, UNN. Bouyoucous, G.J. (1981). A Recaliberation of Hydrometer for Mechanical Analysis of Soils. Agronomy Journal 43:424-438. Bray, R.H. and L.T. Kurtz. (1945). Determination of Total Organic and Available Form of Phosphorus in Soils. Soil Science 59:39-45. Bremmer, J.M. and Mulvancy, G.S. (1982). Nitrogen total. In Methods of Soil Analysis Part II, ASA no. 9 Madison, Wisconsin 595 – 624. Duze, M. and Afolabi, M.A. (1981). Senior School Atlas Macmillan Education Ltd. Nigeria Esteban, H (2000). Soil test interpretation: Guide A – 122, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Science, New Mexico State University Esu, I. E. (2010). Soil characterization, classification and survey. Heinemann Educational Books Publishers, Nigeria 232pp Jackson, M. L (1958). Soil Chemical Analysis and Advance Course Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison USA Manjoka, J, Yerokun, O. A., Lungu, O. I and Munyinda, K (2007). Changes in soil organic matter and soil aggregation of a Zambian oxisol after applying lime, Int’l. J. Soil Sci. 2(3): 190-196. Mclean, E.O. (1982). Soil pH and Time Requirement: Methods of Soil analysis Second Edition, Agronomy Series. No. 9 ASA Madison, WI USA Nweke, I A and Nsoanya, L N (2012). Inventory of physico-chemical characteristics of soils of the teaching and research farm, faculty of agriculture, Anambra state University, Igbariam campus, Nigeria, In: Proc. Int’l. Agric. Conf. ANSUIAC2012, 6th -9th May,2012 held at Anambra State University, Igbariam campus. Stutter, M., Langan, S and Cresser, M. (2003). Weathering and atmospheric deposition signature of basic cations in upland soils of NE Scotland: their application to critical load assessment. Geoderma 116: 301-342 Walkley A and Black I A (1934) Determination organic carbon in soils. Soil Sci. 37: 29 – 38.
