Journal of
Soil Science and Environmental Management

  • Abbreviation: J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manage.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2391
  • DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM
  • Start Year: 2010
  • Published Articles: 315

Article in Press

Soil survey for Agricultural land use planning in Tofa local government, Kano state

Soil survey and mapping is an important aspect of soil science, since it plays a key role in the knowledge about soil properties and how it can be used for Agriculture, Irrigation, Urbanization and other land uses. This study focus on soil survey of Tofa Local Government, Kano for the purpose of Agricultural land use planning. Free traverse method was employed where the study area was divided base on physiography into four land units; land unit A (Highland), Land unit B (Upland), land unit C (Re

Soil survey and mapping is an important aspect of soil science, since it plays a key role in the knowledge about soil properties and how it can be used for Agriculture, Irrigation, Urbanization and other land uses. This study focus on soil survey of Tofa Local Government, Kano for the purpose of Agricultural land use planning. Free traverse method was employed where the study area was divided base on physiography into four land units; land unit A (Highland), Land unit B (Upland), land unit C (Relatively flat terrain), and Land unit D (Valley sides of major streams). Google earth satellite image of Tofa at a scale of 1:50,000 supported with topo sheet of Kabo NE and SE, Bichi NE and SE were used as base maps. Systematic random sampling was used in obtaining soil samples for chemical and physical analysis. A profile was dug at each land unit with two samples from each, a total of 46 soils samples also collected from surface (0-20cm) and sub surface (20-40cm). The soils were classified as Entisols and Inceptisols by USDA soil taxonomy and Luvisols, Plinthosols and Arenosols by FAO/UNESCO. Soil colour ranged from Yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), strong brown (10YR 6/6), light grey (10YR 7/3), very pale brown (10YR 6/4), brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) etc. Texture ranged from Sandy loam, Sandy and Sandy clay. Mean pH ranged from 6.15-6.55, mean AWCH ranges from 4.23-5.11%, mean ECe ranged from 16.11-16.99µs,mean Nitrogen ranged from 0.234-0.299%, mean

Keywords: Soil survey, Algriculture, land use, planning