Fertility Evaluation of Some Soils in Mabudi Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

The study of soil properties in natural and man-made ecosystems is important in developing appropriate ecological sustainable management plans. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of some soils in Mabudi have been examined in relation to their fertility status. Surface (0-20cm) and sub-surface (20-40cm) soil samples were collected from Mabudi, the Headquarter of Langtang South local government of Plateau state with the aim of evaluating their fertility status. The soils were evaluated both in the field and laboratory. The textural class was found to be sandy loam in the surface and sandy clay loam at the sub-surface. Soil reaction were slightly acidic (6.3-6.9), electrical conductivity (EC) were below the critical limit of 4dSm-1 to interfere with plant growth. Organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (Av.P) content were found to be low in all the soils. The exchangeable bases; calcium (Ca) content were high range from 4.51-5.95cmol(+)kg1 and slightly increases with increase in depth, magnesium (Mg) (1.75-4.10cmol(+)kg-1) and sodium (Na) (1.96- 3.61cmol(+)kg1 ) content were all medium while potassium (K) content were low. The effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC)) and percent base saturation (PBS) were all high while Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were low in the soils. Highly significant positive correlation was observed between pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, calcium, and total exchangeable acidity while a highly significant but negative correlation was observed between electrical conductivity, pH, total nitrogen, magnesium and organic carbon. However, a significant and positive correlation was observed between pH, potassium, magnesium, sodium, total exchangeable acidity, organic carbon and percentage base saturation. The results suggest the soils are generally of low fertility with pH close to neutral position, which suggested that the soil nutrients are optimally available to plants and could enhance root growth. Keywords: