ACID SAND SOIL ON THE ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN OF SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA: PROPERTY VARIABILITY AND LAND EVALUATION FOR AGRICULTURE

Abstract

Acid sand soils that occur along the Atlantic Coastal land of Lagos State of Nigeria were sampled and evaluated for surface soil (0 - 20cm,' property variability, and their potential for pineapple, cashew, mango and coconut crop production. Land was also evaluated for cassava, which is a traditional crop of this area. Soil samples used consist of representative pedons and surface soil horizons from fallow, cultivated and wetland plots. The least variable (C.V. < 15%) of the properties measured are sand content, pH and base saturation. These soil properties do not seem to reflect the influence of land use types. There is higher correlation coefficient between ECEC and C/N ratio (r = .958) than with organic carbon (r = .436) or clay content (r = .131) for all samples. This trend is repeated on a land-use basis except for those of the wetland where the correlation coefficient between organic carbon and ECEC was higher (r = 773). The correlation coefficient between ECEC and organic carbon for cultivated land use samples is not statistically significant.

Land evaluation indicates that these soils are only moderately suitable for cassava, pineapple and cashew. Nutrient status constitutes the most limiting factor.