Salinity Status of the Soils of a Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural production infragile soils of the Sudano-Sahelian agro-ecological zone requires a betterknowledge of its salinity and sodicity problems for appropriate managementpractices. The study was carried out to evaluate the salinity indicators of thesoils of Bade Local Government Area (LGA), situated in the Sudano-Sahelian ecologicalzone of Yobe State, Nigeria.Soils were randomly sampled from each of the 10 agricultural areas of the LGAat 0-20cm depth. Samples collected were composite based on location and depthfor laboratory analysis. Shapiro–wilks normality test indicatedthat the data varies significantly from a normal distribution p<0.05.Descriptive statistics was carried out on the data and basic salinityparameters were calculated therefrom. Thelevel of soil salinity was measured by electrical conductivity (EC) of thesoil/water suspension, while total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinitytolerance rate (ECse) were determined from the soil texture and ECvalues. Results obtained showed that the soils of the area are small tomoderate dispersion existed across the areas for the soil salinity propertiesstudied. The pH values wereslightly acidic with a median of 6.45; ECse median value was 1.75dSm-1and a wider inter quartile range (IQR) of 1.54– 4.76dSm-1. Total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from verylow (44.8 mmol/L) to marginal (908.8 mmol/L). Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)ranged from 0.94 to 11.81%, with a median (interquartile range) of 3.99 (1.68 –6.95%). Medium values wererecorded on the salinity indices. Therefore best soil and water managementpractices such as incorporation of organic residues and manure, efficient useof inorganic fertilizers and improve drainage are required to prevent saltsbuild up in the area.