Characterization and Classification of Soils on Topographic Units in Amainyi- Nta, Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State

Abstract

Efforts towards achieving food security will be fruitless without understanding 
the dynamics of soils and as well as classifying them, since soil is the major 
medium for plant growth. Thus, this research aimed at characterizing and 
classifying the soils along the toposequence of Amainyi-nta in Ihitte/Uboma 
Local Government Area of Imo State. The pedons were sited along the 
toposequece with one soil profile pit representing each topographic position. 
The soil profile pits were examined and sampled for laboratory analyses of the 
physical and chemical properties. The morphological examination of the soil 
profiles revealed various shades of brownish soil colour. The bulk density values 
did not exceed 1.63 g/cm3. The soils’ total porosity values ranged from 39.10 to 
70.09. Argillic horizons were expressed by sandy clay loam and sandy clay 
dominance in the subsurface horizons. The soils were low in organic carbon 
and total nitrogen. The soil pH values ranged from 4.73 to 6.50 while the 
maximum cation exchange capacity value obtained was 7.21 in the surface soil 
of AMA 1. AMA 1 and AMA 2 were classified as Typic Paleudults while AMA 3 
was classified as Aquic Arenic Paleudults. One of the best management options 
of these soils is to plant acid-tolerant crops to minimize cost of production 
through liming.