ASSESSING THE STATUS OF SOIL DEGRADATION IN UGBOJU-OTAHE OF OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE
Keywords:
Soil degradation, Land assessment, Organic matter, Chemical properties, Soil fertilityAbstract
This study was carried out in Ugboju-Otahe of Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State during the dry season of 2021 to assess the degradation status of soils in five locations within Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State. The research was carried out at Ilaba longitude 8°02'58"Eand latitude 7°34'78"N, Ibaji longitude 8°01'05"Eand latitude7°33'43"N, Aokwu longitude 7°98'77"Eand latitude7°35'25"N, Efeyi-Utikpi longitude 7°96'82"Eand latitude7°37'28"N, and Nwaba-Oju longitude 7°35'25"E and latitude7°35'25"N. Soil samples were collected at 0-10cm depth from each spot. The samples were analyzed using standard analytical procedures. The evaluated physical and chemical properties of the Soils were compared with the standard Indicators and Criteria for Land Degradation Assessment of the FAO (1979). The results obtained indicated levels of various form of land degradation. For the physical degradation, most of the soils were within the range of moderately to very highly degraded. While chemically, the Soils were very high with regards to Base saturation. Soil chemical properties like the CEC, N, P and K were highly to very highly degraded. For the biological degradation, Organic matter was very highly degraded across all the locations. The degradation observed was due to decline in fertility and loss of organic matter. It is recommended that appropriate measures should be taken to improve the quality of the soils
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