The potential of alfisols developed on different parent materials in two agro-ecological zones for oil palm production in Nigeria

Abstract

The excessive use and lack of information on the properties and potentials of agricultural land have led to misuse, mismanagement, soil erosion and loss of soil quality in the tropics. Land suitability evaluation is a tool for assessing the potential of land for the cultivation of specific crops. The study was conducted during 2018 and 2019 on soils of two agro-ecological zones of dry upland rainforest (Ado-Ekiti) and southern guinea savanna (Kabba) of Nigeria. They were mapped, characterized and classified for their potential to support the cultivation of oil palm. Seven mapping units were delineated at Ado-Ekiti (labeled AA to AG) and nine units at Kabba (labeled KA to KI). Based on the principle of matching land qualities and climatic requirements of crop to the characteristics of the land, the suitability classification of the soils mapping units was developed. Mapping units KA, KD, KG, KH, KI, AA, AB, AD, AE and AF have index of actual productivity (IPC) lower than 50% therefore they were rated as currently marginally suitable (S3) for oil palm production. KB, KC, KE, KF, and AC were currently not suitable (N1) while AG was permanently not suitable. The major limitations to oil palm production at both sites were rainfall, poor soil drainage condition in some portion and soil fertility. Fertility is a limitation that can be improved with appropriate post-harvest crop residue management and mulching, use of organic manure and biosolids, legumes in crop rotations; judicious use of inorganic fertilizer and integration of fertilizer with manures these will raise the productivity of mapping units KB, KF, KG, KH and AA, AB, AC, AD to AF to class S2; moderately suitable for oil palm production.