Soil Carbon Forms and Organic Matter Distribution in Arable Soils of Rigachikun, Northern Kaduna, Nigeria
The study was done in Rigachikun Kaduna, Northern Guinea Savanna and intended to investigate the carbon forms such as Organic carbon, carbon loss on ignition (LOI), Biomass microbial carbon (BMC) as well as organic matter distribution of the studied soils. A reconnaissance survey was carried out...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Bulgarian Soil Science Society
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Bulgarian Journal of Soil Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.bsss.bg/issues/Issue2_2022/BJSS_2022_2_4.pdf |
| Summary: | The study was done in Rigachikun Kaduna, Northern Guinea Savanna and
intended to investigate the carbon forms such as Organic carbon, carbon loss on
ignition (LOI), Biomass microbial carbon (BMC) as well as organic matter
distribution of the studied soils. A reconnaissance survey was carried out in the
study location using the developed Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Soils were
delineated into mapping units using the cropping land uses namely maize,
cowpea and rice. In each of the cropping land use, three profile pits were sited
giving a total of nine profile pits. Organic carbon contents of investigated soils were
low and decreased down the horizon in all investigated pedons. This trend follows
closely to organic matter which decreased in the same pattern with the values of
organic carbon. Carbon LOI had a very highly significant relationship with BMC and
OM, non-significantly correlated with Carbon/Nitrogen ratio, Clay, pH, K, Na and
total exchangeable acidity (TEA). Biomass carbon had a negative and significant
correlation with organic carbon, very highly and significant correlation with organic
matter. BMC tolled the path of LOI in its relationship with other soil properties
investigated. Also, all carbon forms (LOI, BMC, OC and OM) investigated exhibited
high (CV > 35%) coefficient of variation in all investigated locations except in pedon
3 of location B where BMC varied moderately and pedons 1 and 2 of Location C
(Rice soils) where they all varied moderately (CV >15 ≤ 35%). Generally organic
matter content of the soils was very low resulting from continual use of crop litters in
the feeding of farm animals rather than incorporating them to the soils. Soil degradation, erosion and desert encroachment have also affected soil of north western
Nigeria so immensely. |
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| ISSN: | 2534-8787 2367-9212 |