Morphological Characterization of a Sudanese Soil: Case Study of the Yilou in the Centre-North Region of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Soil data are essential to know the soils and improve agricultural yields, especially in a locality like Yilou in Burkina Faso. Soil samples were taken from five soil types, namely FLIPP, FLTC, FLIMP, BEHV/F and hydromorphic. The morphological and physicochemical parameters were studied according to the national reference of Burkina Faso. The results of the soil analyzes were compared with reference standard values. The morphological aspect indicates that FLIPP had a light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) horizon at the beginning and becomes pale brown (10YR/6-3). FLIMP ranged from yellowish brown (10YR5/4) to yellowish yellow (10YR6/6) and BEHV/F had a pale reddish brown horizon (2.5YR6/3-2.5YR6/4). FLTC had a yellowish brown (10YR5/4) matrix color in the first 20 cm and turns light brown (7.5YR5/6) in the next three horizons. The hydromorphic soils were gray at the surface (2.5Y 5/1) and light brown gray (2.5Y 6/2) at depth. The textures of soils were sandy loams (FLIPP, FLTC, FLIMP and BEHV/F) and sandy clay loams (BEHV/F/F, hydromorphic). The soils were slightly acidic (Hydromorphic, FLIPP and FLTC), and slightly alkaline (FLIMP and BEHV/F) with an organic matter below the reference standard (3.6% <OM<6.5%). Hydromorphic soils had the level of very high fertility (OM>2). The total nitrogen content was lower (1.2-2.2%), except for hydromorphic soils (1.81%). The soils had a C/N ratio of 11, except for FLTC soils where C/N ratio was 10 below the baseline standard of 11-15. Hydromorphic and BEHV/F soils had the highest levels of assimilable phosphorus with respective values of 6.24 mg/Kg and 4.65 mg/Kg. The iron levels of the five soils varied from 968 to 1423 mg/Kg. Soils were low in exchangeable cations and the highest level was found in hydromorphic soils (8.37 meq (+)/100g) but remains below to reference standards (10 <CEC< 20). BEHV/F and hydromorphic soils were most fertile.