Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 5(7), pp. 476 - 479
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050702
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Assessment of Fertility Status of Irrigated Lowland Rice Growing Soils of Ebonyi South-East Nigeria


Ekpe I. I. 1,*, B. U. Uzoho 1, Ahukaemere, C. M 1, S. E. Okere 2
1 Department of Soil Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
2 Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A study to assess soil fertility status was conducted in the lowland rice growing soils of Ebonyi South-East Nigeria situated within latitude 60 41, N and longitude 80 51 E, and 104.40 m above sea level. The assessment covered all the villages that produce rice in the three major rice producing zones of Ebonyi state with Ebiaunuhu, Ogboji and Akaeze representing Ebonyi North, Central and South zones respectively. Soil samples were collected from the rice growing lowland zones at 0-30cm depth using soil auger attached to a core sampler. A total of 250 soil samples were collected from each of the 100 hectare lowland soils of the zones and analyzed for chemical fertility indicators. The data was analyzed for means and percentages and the results were ranked using fertility standard according to Landon. The results revealed that total nitrogen, organic matter and cation exchange capacity were in low in all the zones while P was adequate in all the zones and K was high for the soils studied. Calcium concentration was high in the north but low in the central and southern zones. The soils require good input of N-fertilizer and organic matter to boost CEC and therefore increase the yield of rice in these lowland soils of Ebonyi State.

KEYWORDS
Ebonyi, Fertility, Irrigable, Lowland Soil, Rice

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Ekpe I. I. , B. U. Uzoho , Ahukaemere, C. M , S. E. Okere , "Assessment of Fertility Status of Irrigated Lowland Rice Growing Soils of Ebonyi South-East Nigeria," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 5, No. 7, pp. 476 - 479, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050702.

(b). APA Format:
Ekpe I. I. , B. U. Uzoho , Ahukaemere, C. M , S. E. Okere (2017). Assessment of Fertility Status of Irrigated Lowland Rice Growing Soils of Ebonyi South-East Nigeria. Environment and Ecology Research, 5(7), 476 - 479. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2017.050702.