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Browsing Theses and Dissertations by Author "Azuike, Kelechi Charity"

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    Nitrogen forms and fertility status of selected floodplain soils in Imo State, South-East Nigeria
    (Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 2023-06) Azuike, Kelechi Charity
    The study was carried out on a floodplain formed by Otamiri river, Nkesi river and otamiri River, all in Southeastern Nigeria with the aim of determining and studying the Nitrogen Forms and fertility status of some selected soils of the area for optimal management and utilization. The Nitrogen forms are total nitrogen, total organic nitrogen and inorganic nitrogen which consist of Nitrate nitrogen (NO3 - N), Ammonium nitrogen NH4+- N and Nitrite (NO2- N). The soils were derived from coastal plain sands and the corresponding sites were Emeabiam, Ohaji Egbema, and Oguta. Three pedons were dug in each location. A total of 42 soil samples were collected and subjected to routine analysis. Data generated was analyzed statistically using coefficient of variation. They had high sand fraction and clay content. The dominant hues were 5YR and 2YR in Emeabiam, 2Y and 5Y in Ohaji Egbema and 10YR in Oguta. Soil texture varied from sand to loamy sand. Bulk density had means of 1.48 gkg-3 to 1 68 gkg-3 at Emeabiam, 1.17 gkg-3 to 1.25 gkg-3 at Ohaji Egbema, 1.34 gkg-3 to 1.53 gkg-3 at Oguta, The pH (H20) indicated that soils were moderately to slightly acidic with mean values of 5.55 to 6.32 at Emeabiam, 5.74 to 6.14 at Ohaji Egbema and 6.25 to 6.32 in Oguta. Organic carbon were low with mean values that ranged from 0.46% to 0.90 % at Emeabiam, 0.52 % to 0.95 % at Ohaji Egbema, 0.22 % to 0.90 % at Oguta. Organic matter content were low 0.79 % to 1.73 % at Emeabiam, 0.93 % to1.55 % at Ohaji Egbema, 0.36 % to 0.66 % at Oguta. Total Nitrogen content were low in all the pedons with mean values that ranged from 0.08gkg-1 to 0.13gkg-1 at Emeabiam, 0.09 gkg-1 to 0.10gkg-1 at Ohaji Egbema, 0.04gkg-1 to 0.08gkg-1 at Oguta. Available Phosphorous content were generally low with mean values that ranged from 3.46 mg/kg to 10.74 mg/kg at Emeabiam, 4.62 mg/kg to 6.80 mg/kg at Ohaji Egbema, 4.20mg/kg to 4.62mg/kg at Oguta. Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC)was low to moderate with mean values that ranged from1.06 cmol/kg to 1.68 cmol/kg at Emeabiam, 7.11cmol/kg to 8.83 cmol/kg at Ohaji Egbema, 3.66 cmol/kg to 4.90 cmol/kg at Oguta. Base saturation was high in all the pedons with mean values that ranged from 63.34% to 82.6% at Emeabiam, 74% to 83.6% at Ohaji Egbema, 89% to 93% at Oguta. There was positive correlation between organic carbon and all the nitrogen forms of Emeabiam. Sand correlated positively with TN (r= 0.54*), TON (r =0.51*) and NO3-N (r =0.50*), Available Phosphorous and SCR correlated positively with all the nitrogen forms at Ohaji Egbema, TEA correlated with all the nitrogen forms for Oguta ECEC correlated with NH4 +- N (r = 0.53*), NO3 - N (r =0.52*), TIN (r = 0.53*). Total nitrogen, total organic nitrogen, NO3 - N, NH4 + - N had high mean values in all the locations studied except Nitrate nitrogen at Oguta location that had mean values that ranged from (11.24mg/kg to 17.82mg/kg). This result showed that the soils had low fertility and also needs adequate management for sustainable utilization. The nitrogen forms studied showed that total nitrogen was high in all the locations. Ammonium nitrogen was high with mean values that ranged from 56.7mg/kg to 89.4mg/kg and above the critical limit suitable for crop production. Nitrate nitrogen was moderate at Oguta soils with mean values that ranged from11.24 mg/kgto 17.82 mg/kg. Nitrate for Ohaji Egbema was moderate in Pedon 1 with a mean of 17.44 mg/kg and high in pedon 2 mean 40.76 mg/kg and pedon 3 mean 53.06 mg/kg. nitrite was high with mean values that ranged from 13.58 to 21.40 mg/kg at Emeabiam, 8.02 to 20.92 mg/kg at Ohaji egbema and 7.13 to 7.76 mg/kg at Oguta. inorganic nitrogen was also high with mean values that ranged from97.33 to 149.3 mg/kg at Emeabiam, 55.86 to 127.38 mg/kg at Ohaji Egbema and 43.15 to 60. 52 mg/kg at Oguta.