Distribution of Soil Micronutrients of Bakalori Irrigation Project, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the distribution of soil micronutrients at Bakalori Irrigation Project, Zamfara State. Three local government areas; Maradun (Upper slope), Talata Mafara (Middle slope) and Bakura (Lower slope) were purposively sampled along Sokoto River. Three soil profile pits were dug, one in each local government of the study site, soil samples were collected from each horizon. Results showed that the soils were slightly acid to neutral with mean pH of 6.29, 6.60 and 6.62 for upper, middle and lower slope respectively. Organic carbon was low with mean values of 5.67 gkg-1, 2.79 gkg-1 and 4.72 gkg-1. CEC values were medium with the mean value of 10.76, 10.92 and 10.60 cmolkg-1. The results of available micronutrients showed that Fe was low with the mean values of 1.55 mgkg-1, 1.8 mgkg-1, and 1.83 mgkg-1, Mn was low to medium with the mean values of 0.70 mgkg-1, 0.85 mgkg-1  and 1.08 mgkg-1, Zn was medium with the mean values of 1.05 mgkg-1, 0.85-1 and 1.0 mgkg-1 and Cu was high with the mean values of 2.30 mgkg-1, 1.5 mgkg-1 and 2.58 mgkg-1 in all the three sites (upper, middle and lower slope). According to the USDA soil Taxonomy Classification System, soils of profile 1 (upper slope) were classified as  Typic Endoaqualfs, soils profile 2 (middle slope) were classified as Aquic Haplustalfs and soils profile 3 (lower slope) were classified as Aquic Hapludalfs and the soils were locally named as Dosara, Matusgi and Birnin Tudu series for Maradun, Talata Mafara and Bakura soils respectively.