Abstract
The floodplain soils of Central Cross River State are extensively cultivated for food crop production and contributes nearly 60% of the agricultural wealth of the inhabitants. Knowledge of their characteristics, classification and management will enhance their productive potential and facilitate technological transfer. Profile pits were escavated in levee and backswamp locations in two communities with extensive floodplains and studied. Based on morphological and other analytical characteristics, the soils were classified according to USDA soil Taxonomy and correlated to FAO/UNESCO soil map of the world legend. Backswamp soils were classified as Vertic Tropaquepts while levee soils were classified as Typic Tropustuepts at sub-group level of the USDA soil Taxonomy. The FAO/UNESCO equivalent of these soils is Luvisol. The major limitations of these soils are high acidity (low pH), low available phosphorus and poor drainage. Backswamp soils were superior in most fertility indices assessed than levee soils. Soil pH in these soils had a high positive correlation with CEC, available phosphorous and base saturation with “r” values of 0.79, 0.76, and 0.75 at p0.01 significant level. The floodplain soils can be efficiently managed through the use of water control mechanisms, construction of efficient low cost drainage systems, construction of giant heaps and application of phosphatic fertilizers/NPK high in phosphorus. The backswamps can be dammed for fish farming.
Highlights
There is an increasing need to provide more information on our wetlands especially the floodplains because of their enormous agricultural potentials
Eshett (1993) remarked that the largest concentration of natural wetland occurs in Southern Nigeria where the principal geological formation consists of coastal plain sands and alluvium
Brinkman and Blockhuis (1986) observed the texture of floodplain soils to range from clay to sand with the greatest variation in the texture of surface horizons
Summary
There is an increasing need to provide more information on our wetlands especially the floodplains because of their enormous agricultural potentials. Floodplains soils are derived from alluvial deposits and are located in areas that are susceptible to flooding during the wet season and are somewhat well drained during the dry season (Carsky, 1992). Floodplains are areas within which river escapes into during flooding. These soils may be sandy as in beach deposit or derived from sandstone, but are more frequently clayey and are said to be very fertile with maximum water holding capacity (William et al, 1979). World Bank (1992) described the floodplain as flood prone, low lying slow draining area, that generally posses finer texture. Troech and Thompson (1993) observed that floodplain soils that are seasonally dry possess structures that range from blocky to prismatic. This study is intended to investigated the characteristics of floodplain soils, highlight cost effective management strategies and classify the soils in order to facilitate transfer of knowledge or experience from one plot to another
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