QUALITY AND SUITABILITY OF SOILS OF NORTHERN EBONYI, SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA FOR RICE PRODUCTION

Abstract

This study was carried out in Abakaliki region, Ebonyi state of southeastern Nigeria and aimed at studying the quality and suitability of soil used for rice cultivation in the area between 2015 to 2017. This purpose was necessary due to the dwindling yield of rice in northern Ebonyi, southeastern Nigeria leading to increased hunger in the country and daunting the efforts of the government to achieve her goal of food security by the year 2025. Soils were delineated into upland, lowland and irrigated as different rice farming land uses with three profile pits dug in each location amounting to a total of nine (9) profile pits for the study. Soil quality indicators employed were; climate, soil physical condition, wetness, fertility and toxicity. An index of productivity equation was used to calculate the suitability status of each of the studied locations. The three pedons of upland rice soils were not suitable (N1) for rice production, while pedons 1 of the lowland and 2 of the irrigated were marginally suitable (S3) while others in these locations were not suitable (NI). The major challenges faced by these soils were basically of wetness, fertility and toxicity. All other soils at the lowland and irrigated soils were not suitable (NI). Practices that will conserve the fertility status of these soils should be adopted such as rotational farming, accumulation of organic materials on the soils and avoidance of burning of rice husks. This is necessary as fallow practice does not exist anymore due to demographic pressure and population growth in southern Nigeria.