Agro-Ecological Assessment of Soil Quality of a River Watershed in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

The chemical properties of the degraded soil around River Ediene watershed in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria were analyzed to determine the soil quality level of the forested mosaic. This was assessed by taking 9 samples from different points around the watershed. Each sample was tested for percentage concentration of organic matter, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, aluminum and soil pH. Reconnaissance survey preceded the 9 sites soil sample collection. The sampling points were made 50 metres apart from the bank of the river, designated as A, B, C. The result of the analysis shows that the soil around River Ediene watershed has an organic matter content of 0.9%, magnesium content of 0.085 Meq Mg/100g, and 0.52 Meq C_a/100g of calcium, percentage aluminum of 0.077% (770 ppm), Phosphorus content of 17.23ppm, nitrogen of 0.025%. It also contained 0.016 Meq Na/100g of sodium, 4.63ppm potassium and the soil pH was 6. 17. It was therefore concluded that the soil is not of good quality as the values were lower than the standard soil requirement and needs to be raised for arable farming

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Keywords: watershed, soil quality, Niger Delta Region, soil fertility, agro-ecological, River Ediene