Sand Plain Research Articles

LIFE-HISTORY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLORIDA LANCELET, BRANCHIOSTOMA FLORIDAE: SOME FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION DYNAMICS IN TAMPA BAY

ABSTRACT The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on population dynamics was studied for Branchiostoma floridae in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. As lancelets grow from 4 mm (newly settled) to 58 mm (maximum size), their numbers decline steadily. A conspicuous cause of mortality of large lancelets is predation by stingrays. During the late spring and summer reproductive period, individual females probably spawn repeatedly at weekly to fortnightly intervals. The number of oocytes shed per spawning female increases geometrically with body size. For example, females of 23 mm and 50 mm typically spawn about 500 and 11,000 oocytes, respectively. Settled juvenile and adult lancelets survive temperatures from 3 to 37 °C and salinities down to 6%c; however, early developmental stages are less tolerant. Small lancelets are uncommon very close to shore where water temperature and salinity will fluctuate widely. Also, in comparison to the sand plain nearby, the substrate beneath seagrass beds contained relatively few s...

Relative Structural Developments and Crop Yields in Two Landforms of an Ultisol in Southeastern Nigeria

Aggregate stability is an important factor in the functioning of soil due to its ability to controlling plant growth, influence on root penetration, soil temperature, and water transport and seedling emergence. Some soil characteristics play important role in improving soil aggregation and hence soil structure. This study evaluated the aggregates between soils of Beach Ridge Sand (BRS) and Coastal Plain Sand (CPS) as well as relating the stable aggregates to variability in soil properties and crop yields. Twelve soil profiles were sunk for the study. The relationship between structural indices; Mean weight diameter (MWD) and Water-stable aggregate from one side and some soil properties on the other side were assessed to compare the relative stable aggregates between the landforms. Structural development of CPS improved maize yield by 67.5 % and cassava 35.3 %. However, significant difference in the aggregate stability between the two landforms was a function of organic C and hydrated Fe oxides. Differences in sand and silt content are not a probable cause of differences in aggregation of these landforms, because these particles usually have low-activity surfaces and very low surface areas compared with clay particles. Calcium contents also influence aggregation, but do not correlate well with any of the aggregation indices in these landforms.

Habitat use and ecological observations of the Ooldea dunnart (Sminthopsis ooldea) at Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory

The Ooldea dunnart (Sminthopsis ooldea) is a small (10–11 g) and poorly known dasyurid marsupial that is endemic to the central and western arid regions of Australia. Surveys carried out at Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory, from 1994 to 2010 yielded 37 captures of this elusive species, providing novel insights into its biology. Most captures were made in pitfall traps, with spring breeding confirmed by the presence of pregnant or lactating females during October and November. Animals were captured in mallee and mulga woodland and spinifex (Triodia spp.) dominated dune fields and sand plains. Capture rates were variable in most habitat types, but were relatively consistent in one site dominated by mulga (Acacia aneura). Although we found no consistent association between captures of S. ooldea and prior rainfall, fewest animals were captured in the two wettest years of the study. Ooldea dunnarts showed no clear response to fire. We suggest that mulga is a key habitat for S. ooldea, but also that the demography of this species may be shaped by biotic and/or abiotic factors that remain to be fully elucidated.

Capacity for increasing soil organic carbon stocks in dryland agricultural systems

Assessment of the potential for soil carbon sequestration based on soil type, land use, and climate scenarios is crucial for determining which agricultural regions can be used to help mitigate increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In semi-arid and Mediterranean-type environments, soil organic carbon (SOC) storage capacity is rarely achieved under dryland agricultural systems. We aimed to assess both actual (measured) and attainable (modelled) SOC stock values for the dryland agricultural production zone of Western Australia. We measured actual SOC storage (0–0.3 m) and known constraints to plant growth for a range of soils types (3–27% clay) and land uses (continuous cropping, mixed cropping, annual and perennial pastures) on the Albany sand plain in Western Australia (n = 261 sites), spanning a rainfall gradient of 421–747 mm. Average actual SOC stocks for land use–soil type combinations ranged from 33 to 128 t C/ha (0–0.3 m). Up to 89% of the variability in actual SOC stock was explained by soil depth, rainfall, land use, and soil type. The scenarios modelled with Roth-C predicted that attainable SOC values of 59–140 t C/ha (0–0.3 m) could be achieved within 100 years. This indicated an additional storage capacity of 5–45% (7–27 t C/ha) depending on the specific land use–soil type combination. However, actual SOC in the surface 0–0.1 m was 95 to >100% of modelled attainable SOC values, suggesting this soil depth was ‘saturated’. Our findings highlight that additional SOC storage capacity in this region is limited to the subsoil below 0.1 m. This has implications for management strategies to increase SOC sequestration in dryland agricultural systems, as current practices tend to concentrate organic matter near the soil surface.

English

This study was designed to elucidate the role of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet-an exotic worldwide weed-in native desert communities of various habitats (sand plains, dams and wadies) in Taif. The latter is characterized by its high diversity in local climatic and topographic conditions. The inter-relationship between the species invasibility (INV) and its biological features (such as plant size; PS, seed production; SP and seed bank; SB) and between some of community factors (such as species richness; SR and productivity) was studied. Results evinced high seed productivity of Argemone (85, 850 seeds). Species seed bank attained an average value of 7, 736. m -2 . The seed productivity plain habitat was characterized by possessing the highest values of: invasibility, diversity, Argemone size, seed production, seed bank and community productivity compared with the other two habitats. Correlation between invasibility (INV), species richness (SR), plant size (PS), seed productivity (SP) and seed bank (SB) and each other indicated that INV positively correlated with both plant size and seed production. Plant size positively correlated with invasibility and seed productivity. The later positively correlated with invasibility and plant size .On the other hand, there was a negative correlation between INV and SR and SB. A negative correlation was also obtained between SR and all other variables and also between SP and SR and SB. Plant size negatively correlated with species richness and seed bank.

Estimating Turbulence and Shear Stress under Regular Waves from ADV Data

The boundary layer flow determines the bottom shear stresses, which is key point for sediment transport and thereby the evolution of coastal morphology. The structure of the bottom boundary layer in coastal seas has been of interest to oceanographers for many years. In the paper Acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) technique is applied to measure the bottom boundary layer under cnoidal waves in a laboratory flume with 40-m-long, 0.5-m-wide, and 0.8-m-deep.. Based on the high frequency turbulence signal collected, statistic parameters of cnoidal wave flow are calculated, compared and analyzed. The turbulent structure over plain bed and sand ripples bed are carefully studied. The turbulence intensity of near-bed velocities changes along depth of several phases in a period is analyzed. Turbulent Kinetic Energy Method (TKE Method) is used to estimate near-bed shear stress on flat and slope.

Vegetation strategies of invasive Argemone ochroleuca sweet in different habitats in Taif Governorate, Saudi Arabia’

Argemone ochroleuca is an invasive worldwide medicinal plant with economic potentialities. The species is largely distributed in Taif Governorate, KSA. Its introduction affected the flora of the area thereby, the study aimed at elucidating the effects of its infestation at nine localities representing three different habitats: sand plains (such as in Al-Shafa, Jabajeb, and Al-Arafah), dams (as in Gadeer Albanat and Ekrima) and wadies (such as in Thumalah, Wadi S,ab, Saysed and Jaleel). The importance of the study in Taif Governorate is exemplified in high salt accumulation, scanty rains and high evapotranspiration of the studied area. The instance of studying the Argemone communities is exactly in being occupying virtually every habitat where extreme conditions keep out other forms of life. The species is characterized by its high propagation ability that affects to a large extent the rangeland ecosystems. In this study some of the characteristics of the natural vegetation cover in the chosen localities were examined, such as the floristic composition of species inhabiting the Argemone communities, their importance values and the physico-chemical analysis of the inhabited soil. Also a detailed study of the pheonological changes of A. ochroleuca was monitored during the year 2008 to 2009. A number of 35 desert weed species, with different life forms belonging to 25 different families are associated with Argemone. Among these species, Argemone preponderated and attained the highest importance value of 180 at Al-Arafah locality. Following the phenology of Argemone, results revealed that its life history is completed within eight months. Seed germination takes place in December, vegetatively grows in January, flowers in March and April and disperses seeds in May, June and July.

Yield Performance of Popcorn (Zea mays L. everta) under Lime and Nitrogen Fertilization on an Acid Soil

A two-year field experiment was carried out on the acidic coastal plain sands of South Eastern Nigeria during the year 2009 and 2010 planting seasons to study the effect of lime levels (L = 0, 500 and 1000 kg ha-1) and nitrogen rates (N = 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) on -popcorn varieties (Yellow composite and Ashland). Results showed that N application resulted in significantly (p=0.05) higher grain yield at 80kg N ha-1 in 2010 than that obtained at 120 kg Nha-1 in 2009. Yield in 2010 outstripped yield in 2009 by 23.65%. Results also showed that lime at 500 kg ha-1 gave the highest popcorn yields in 2010, a yield increase of 18.03 % above control, whereas there was no yield response to lime in 2009. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that popcorn sown at 80 kg N ha-1 and 500 kg ha-1 rates of lime significantly increased the crop productivity compared to those sown at other N and lime rates. The study demonstrated the effect of lime amendment in reducing rates of inorganic N applied to popcorn especially with resource poor farmers who form the bulk of maize producers in Nigeria.

Evaluation of Groundwater Potentials of the Calabar Coastal Aquifers

This article presents the results of groundwater site evaluation scheme and quality assessment of coastal aquifers in Calabar, South-eastern Nigeria based on ground water potential index (GWPI) scale, developed for this study. The GWPI consists of ten input parameters, namely: lithofacies (L), aquifer thickness (b), transmissivity (T), storativity (S), specific capacity (SC), static water level (SWL), formation resistivity (FR), chloride (Cl) contents, total dissolved solids (TDS) and Escherichia coli (E-coli). The groundwater potential index (GWPI) is computed as the sum of the products of weights and ratings assigned to each of the input parameters. The GWPI index varying between 20 and 60, is divided into three classes: high (> 40), medium (30-40), and low (< 30). The GWPI index, is then used to demarcate the study area into three hydrogeologic ground water potential zones. These are: (i) Northern zone 1 (transitional, low GWPI) (ii) Central zone 2 (coastal plain sands, high GWPI) (iii) Southern zone 3 (coastal alluvium, medium GWPI). The central zone 2 has the highest GWPI rating. The implication of this rating is that the aquifers in the central and southern zones 2 and 3 are more prolific water bearing than the transitional zone 1 that lies between the Coastal Plain Sands and the argillaceous sediments of the Calabar Flank. This is in agreement with the mean specific capacity (SC) and transmissivity (T) recorded for the central (355.6 m3/d/m, 2640 m2/d); southern (150.0 m3/d/m; 2150 m2/d) and northern (52.1 m3/d/m, 750 m2/d) zones respectively. Lithofacies, saturated thickness of the aquifer, static water level, transmissivity and storativity are the most important parameters which influence ground water availability in the study area. The GWPI results further reveal that E-coli (3-50counts/100ml), chloride (Cl-) (2.5-21.0mg/l) and static water level (SWL) (2.3-28.7m) remain the most significant parameters that contribute to groundwater pollution particularly in the southern zone of the study area. In the near future, water quality in aquifer will be affected due to poor management of human waste-disposal/salt water intrusion, thereby limiting the availability of potable water for domestic and industrial uses.

Modeling of Permanent Wilting from Particle Size Fractions of Coastal Plain Sands Soils in Southeastern Nigeria

Permanent wilting points in soils have been found to correlate significantly with particle size fractions. This study was conducted to establish functional relationship between soil particle size fractions and permanent wilting point of soils of coastal plain sands in southeastern Nigeria. A total of 102 surface samples were collected from three different dominantly Ultisols toposequences (i.e., 34 samples from each). Permanent wilting point experiment was carried out in pots with the 102 samples in the greenhouse while the particle size analysis was carried out in the laboratory. There was significant correlation among the textural separates, permanent wilting point correlated significantly with clay (, ). The general linear model showed significant differences between permanent wilting point of soils found in the upper and lower slope positions. Regression equation established that 54% of the total variation in permanent wilting point could be accounted for by the clay and coarse sand content of the soils. Prediction of permanent wilting point of Ultisols formed on coastal plain sands soils of humid tropical southeastern Nigeria will effectively depend on reliability of determination of clay and coarse sand contents of the soils.

Physicochemical Properties, Degradation Rate and Vulnerability Potential of Soils Formed on Coastal Plain Sands in Southeast, Nigeria

Physicochemical Properties, Degradation Rate and Vulnerability Potential of Soils Formed on Coastal Plain Sands in Southeast, Nigeria

Groundwater recharge under compacted agriculturalsoils, pineand prairie in Central Wisconsin, USA

The water table in Wisconsin Central Sand Plain (CSP) dropped 1.8 m between 2002 and 2010, and several lakes in the area suffer from low water levels. The lower groundwater level has been attributed to agricultural cropping practices, specifically irrigation, and a reduction in ground-water recharge. Dominant soils in this area are sands (Udipsamments). The objective of our research was to quantify groundwater recharge under (i) irrigated agricultural crops, (ii) prairie, and (iii) a 50-year old pine tree plantation in the CSP. Equipment was installed at five sites to monitor water table elevation, soil water content, and precipitation at 15-minute intervals. It was found that, when the soil was at field moisture capacity, precipitation during the growing season resulted in 1.4 cm more water table rise under a prairie than under irrigated agricultural fields. Agricultural crops used groundwater through irrigation, but natural vegetation relied on soil available water, and capillary rise of water from the shallow groundwater table (1 to 2 m to water table), for daily transpiration. After snowmelt, prairie vegetation yielded greater rise, up to 16 cm, in the water table than agricultural fields. Lack of crop residue on the soil surface of agricultural fields resulted in a continuous layer of frost in the soil profile that extended to about a meter depth. This thick, frozen layer was enhanced by greater soil compaction under irrigated crops compared to limited or no compaction in prairie areas. The key finding was that this deep frost in the soil profile inhibited snowmelt water from infiltrating and recharging the groundwater. Thus, compacted-irrigated agricultural soils in the CSP alter groundwater recharge characteristics during frozen and non-frozen ground periods. Increased crop residues on the surface of agricultural fields might enhance groundwater recharge during winter snow melt periods.

Composition and provenance of Late Pleistocene–Holocene alluvial sediments of the eastern Andean piedmont between 33 and 34° S (Mendoza Province, Argentina)

The Andean cordillera, and its piedmont in the central western Argentina, has been long considered as one of the main source areas of detritus for the Chaco–Pampean plain sand dune fields and loess/loess-like deposits of central Argentina. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the composition of the late Pleistocene-Holocene alluvial deposits of the Andes cordillera piedmont, from 33° to 34° S. The results are interpreted in the context of the regional geology, tectonic setting of the study area and its implications in the continent-wide perspective of modern alluvial sands proposed by Potter (1994). Sampling was conducted at the alluvial stratigraphic sequences of four study sites along three Andean piedmont arroyos; modal mineralogy in the very fine sand fraction (3 phi to 4 phi) was determined using standard petrographic microscope methods.Q:F:LF average compositions indicate that the Late Pleistocene-Holocene very fine-grained alluvial sands of the Cordillera Frontal piedmont reflects the modern lithic arenites of the Argentine Association reported by Potter (1994). The results show two geologically distinct sources in the catchment areas, volcaniclastic and metamorphic rocks. High concentrations of mica and volcanic glass are likely related to particle morphologies and to the deposition sedimentary environment recorded in the alluvial sequences—floodplains. The overabundance of micas over the volcanic glass in the mid-late Holocene alluvial sequence indicates the drainage of a metamorphic area at the expense of other lithological sources. Source areas are located mainly in the Frontal cordillera, and to a lesser extent, in the piedmont Tertiary deposits, another likely source for the analyzed Quaternary alluvial sediments. The mineralogical signature of the late Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial sequences is in agreement with the composition of the southern Pampean sand mantles, loess and loess-like deposits mainly formed by a volcanic mineral assemblage with source areas placed at the headwaters of the main Andean rivers.

Aridity in the monsoon zone as indicated by desert dune formation in the Gregory Lakes basin, northwestern Australia

Desert dunes within the monsoon-fed Gregory Lakes basin form valuable archives for Quaternary paleoenvironments, in a region where such records are scarce. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronologies from two dunes identify the timing of eolian processes, interpreted as a complex response to aridification and increased sediment availability during lake transgressions and associated fluvial activity. The earliest eolian deposition in our record occurred ca 91.5 ka, which postdates the last ‘mega-lake’ phase but predates a smaller lake transgression during early MIS 3. Sand plain accretion took place around ca 47 ka during contemporaneous periodic high lake levels. This was followed by intermittent linear dune building, between ca 35 and 11.5 ka, which most likely took place during an interval of relative aridity. Close spacing of mid-Holocene ages within one dune indicates rapid sediment accumulation in a single arid event ca 5 ka. At no time in the last 50 ka have lake levels reached those of the last ‘mega-lake’ phase prior to ca 91.5 ka, suggesting a substantially weakened present-day monsoon.

Spatial Variability of Particle Sizes of Coastal Plain Sands Soils of Southeastern Nigeria

Geostatistical analysis facilitates site-specific farming, soil and sanitary landfill management, sustainability and health. The objectives of this study were to assess the extent of variability, spatial dependence and structure of soil particle sizes, pedological and management implications in the coastal plain sands soils of southeastern Nigeria. Surface (0 &ndash; 15cm) and subsurface (15 &ndash; 30cm) soil samples were collected at 10m2 intervals (rigid grid nodes) in a 100m by 100m plot at the one year fallowed portion of Teaching and Research / Commercial Farm of University of Uyo, in Use Offot, Uyo, Nigeria. A total of 100 samples were collected for each depth. Coefficient of variation (CV) of silt: clay ratio (SCR), silt, fine and coarse sand (surface) were highly variable at both soil depths, while coarse sand of subsurface soil was least variable (13.8%). Spatial dependence of the variables ranged from strong to moderate. The moderately spatially dependent variables included fine sand (36.7%), coarse sand (48.7%) on the surface, and SCR (33.7%) on the subsurface, while the remaining variables were strongly spatially dependent. Pearson correlation coefficients between the semivariances of the two depths showed significance in 52.8% of the entire relationships compared to 19.4% observed on the measured values of the particle sizes. Stronger spatially dependent variables correlated with more variables compared to the moderately spatially dependent variables. It was observed that most of the kriged maps produced displayed similarity in the sedimentation or depositional characteristics which now followed the depositional effect of the massive erosive forces. Kriging may combine correlation and spatial dependence to facilitate site specific farming, soil and sanitary landfills management, knowledge of pedogenesis and sustainability in the coastal plain sands soils.Keywords: coastal plain sands, spatial structure, soil variability, particle sizes, pedogenesis

Unraveling the Enigma of an Atlantic Prairie

Abstract The presence of inland grasslands on the Atlantic coastal plain, including an extensive “tall-grass prairie” at Hempstead Plains on Long Island, NY, remote from the “prairie peninsula”, has never been explained. In 2008, surveys of Homoptera: Auchenorrhyncha on prairie grasses were conducted from Long Island north to Maine. Multiple prairie-endemic species were found on glades from Rhode Island to New Hampshire, including flightless Cercopidae found only on sand plains. The ranges of 12 species were compared to those of another 50 Cercopidae, Cicadellidae, and Caliscelidae specializing on 15 genera of grasses found in tall-grass prairies. Most support evidence that sand-adapted prairie grasses constitute the easternmost extent of the prairie peninsula that could have come eastward to glaciated New England by following recent glacial moraines before forests re-established themselves in the area 11,000–9000 years ago. This periglacial ecosystem was distinct from a grassland ecosystem in the southea...

A new species of Hierodoris Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) with a telescopic ovipositor, from granite sand plains in Fiordland

A new species, Hierodoris extensilis Hoare (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), is described from Fiordland, New Zealand. Adults fly by day in February and appear to be restricted to granite sand and gravel fields from 1,150 to 1,500 m above sea level on Mts Titiroa and Burns. The female has an exceptionally long telescopic ovipositor, which suggests that eggs may be laid beneath the surface of the sand in proximity to plant stems or roots. The species is assigned to the H. iophanes Meyrick group of Hoare (2005), and brings the total number of species in this endemic New Zealand genus to 19. New information on the life history of H. iophanes, a miner in cicada-damaged twigs of miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea), is given.

Geoelectric Sounding for the Determination of Aquifer Transmissivity in Parts of Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

The application of geophysical methods in combination with pumping tests provides a cost-effective and efficient alternative to estimate aquifer parameters. In this study, nineteen Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings (VES) were occupied in parts of Bayelsa State using a maximum current electrode separation ranging beweeen 300 - 400 m with the aim of estimating the transmissivity of the alluvial aquifer in areas where no pumping test has been carried out. Four of the soundings were carried out near existing boreholes in which pumping test had been carried out. The VES data obtained was interpreted, and layer parameters such as true resistivities and thickness were determined. The geoelectric parameters were used to generate the Dar Zarrouk parameters. Correlating the Dar Zarrouk parameter (e.g longitudinal unit conductance) with transmissivity derived from pumping test data, a constant was found which translate longitudinal unit conductance to transmissivity in a hydrogeological setting where effective porosity is the primary control on resistivity and hydraulic conductivity. Transmissivity determined from the pumping test data range between 1634.0 - 5292.0 m2/day while transmissivity values estimated from the longitudinal unit conductance (Lc) range between 721 - 8991 m2/day. The transmissivity estimated from the pumping test (Tp) data and transmissivity estimated from the longitudinal conductance (Lc) on comparison show excellent correlation (R2 = 0.92). The high transmissivity values agree with the geology of the Benin Formation (Coastal Plain sands) consisting of fine-medium-coarse sands. The results give a useful first approximation of the transmissivity and could be used to site exploratory boreholes.

Determination of Aquifer Properties and Groundwater Vulnerability Mapping Using Geoelectric Method in Yenagoa City and Its Environs in Bayelsa State, South South Nigeria

Nineteen Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings (VES) were carried out within and around Yenagoa city, South South Nigeria, using a maximum current electrode separation ranging between 300 - 400 m. The objectives of the study were 1) to evaluate the possibility of mapping Quaternary sediments to infer the geological structure from the electrical interpretation and identify formations that may hold fresh water with low concentration of conducting minerals such as iron 2) to evaluate the vulnerability of the aquifer in the study area. The interpretation of the data collected was by computer assisted iterative interpretation using 1-D inversion technique software (1X1D, Interpex, USA). The results of the interpretation revealed four distinct geoelectric layers. Sounding curve types obtained in the area are mostly of the form ρ1 > ρ2 ρ3 ρ4 (where ρ is the density) but fresh water lenses with low concentration of conducting minerals such as iron were obtained only in locations that exhibit ρ1 > ρ2 ρ3 ρ4 curve types. Depth to the aquifer ranges from 4.5 m in the vicinity of VES 05 to 27.0 m at the vicinity of VES 14. The resistivity of the aquiferous horizon varies between 60 - 2868 Ωm. High transverse resistance values obtained were associated with zones of high transmissivity which agrees with the geology of the Benin Formation (Coastal Plain sands) consisting of fine-medium-coarse sands. The aquifer vulnerability map illustrates the impermeability of the overburden clay layer. Values of >0.5 mhos indicate good protective capacity, while values <0.3 mhos indicate vulnerable zones with probable risk of contamination.

Nutrient Budget for Optimal Oil Palm (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt; Elaeis guineensis&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; Jacq) Yield on Coastal Plain Sands Soils of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

The objective of the study was to establish approximate relationships between yield and soil nutrients in oil palm production. The study was conducted in Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) substation Ibesit ekoi in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. Soil, rainfall and yield data were collected from oil palm plantation established 49, 29, 9 and 0 (control) years ago in an area underlain by coastal plain sands. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to study variations, effect of land use on soil properties at different depths and contributions of various soil nutrients at different depths to the yield (fresh fruit bunch ‘FFB’ and palm oil) of oil palm. Results of coefficient of variability revealed that approx. 45.5% of the variables were highly variable including available phosphorus, extractable zinc, FFB and palm oil, while others were either least or moderately variable. Oil palm trees influenced soil development with its effect on silt content at 30 - 60 cm depth. Uptake of phosphorus in oil palm land use system decreases with depth. This was further confirmed by the relative contribution of available phosphorus to FFB yield that decreased from the surface of the soil downwards. Extractable zinc contents of oil palm land use were not significantly different from each other (ranging between 9.65 and 7.84 mg·kg–1) but significantly different from the control (23.99 mg·kg–1). In the modeling process, it was observed that the absolute contribution of texture was minimal while exchangeable sodium was highest (i.e. 66.5 percent) in the quantity of oil palm production. Also extractable copper and zinc were found to have made large contributions to FFB and oil palm. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a high-yielding source of edible and technical oils but requires proper knowledge and precise administration of nutrient demands for management of a major production constraint which is soil fertility.