Characteristics of Major Lowland Rice-growing Soils in the Guinea Savanna Voltaian Basin of Ghana

Abstract

Le papier revue les sols principaux pour la cultivation du riz dans la Savanne guineenne de la cuvette voltaique du Ghana et evaluer leur potentialite pour la production du riz. Les sols principaux pour la cultivation du riz dans la Savanne guineenne sont les series Lima et Volta. Les autresincluent les series Laplik, Siare, Pani, Kupela, Brenyase et Pale. Les proprietes physiques du sol etaient utilisees comme les parametres principaux et l'estimation adaptee du Sys et al. (1993) etaient utilisees pour evaluer leur potentialite pour la cultivation du riz. La serie volta(Gleysol dystrique ou entrique) etait evaluee comme moderement convenable avec sa limitation principale etant le couche arable limoneux. Les series Lima (Endogleyi-ferric planosol et Lapliki (Abrupti-stagnique Lixisol) etaient evaluees comme marginalement convenable grâce a un couche arable sableux-limoneux. Ces sols sont tres vastes et sont lessols principaux pour la cultivation du riz dans cette zone. La gestion efficace y compris l'irrigation et l'incorporation de la matiere organique augmenteront significativement leurs evaluations puisque leur sous-sol est basiquement arigile. L'utilisation judiciense de l'engrais et le chaulage modere ou le pH est moins que 5.0 augmenteront significativementleur productivite. The paper reviews the major soils for growing rice in the Guinea savanna Voltaian basin of Ghana and evaluates their potential for rice production. The major soils for growing rice in the Guinea Savanna are Lima and Volta series. The others include Lapliki, Siare, Pani, Kupela, Brenyase and Pale series. Soil physical properties were used as the main parameters and ratings adapted from Sys et al. (1993) were used in evaluating their potential for growing rice. Volta series (Dystric or Eutric Gleysol) was assessed as moderately suitable, with its major limitation being loamy or silty topsoil. Lima (Endogleyi Ferric Planosol) and Lapliki series (Abrupti-Stagnic Lixisol), were assessed as marginally suitable on account of a sandy loam topsoil. These soils are very extensive and are the major soils for rice production in this area. Proper management, including puddling and the incorporation of organic matter, will significantly improve their ratings since their subsoil is basically clay. Judicious use of fertilizer and moderate liming where the soil pH is below 5.0 will significantly improve their productivity.