Assessment of Soil Quality Irrigated with Tube Well Water at University Fadama Farm Jega, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero

Abstract

A research was conducted on the soils of teaching and research fadama farm of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero located at Jega, with the aim of assessing the soil quality irrigated with tube well water of the study area. The entire University Fadama land was divided into three sections namely T1, T2 and T3 and from each section, three (3) composite soil samples were collected. Each soil sample was collected 2meters away from a tubewell where water sample was also collected. Three (3) samples of the tube well water were collected from the three demarcated areas T1, T2 and T3, making a total of nine (9) samples. These samples were collected in a clean 75cl water bottle provided with a cap. Each water sample was analysed for pH, total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K). Soil sample was analyzed for pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus. Result obtained showed that pH was 7.2, TDS 2.55 mg/l, EC 0.25 µs/cm, SAR 1.35, Mg 90.25, K 1.43 and RSC -3.8. Soil analysis showed that organic carbon content was 0.75 g/kg, total nitrogen 0.06 g/kg, Phosphorus 0.65 g/kg and CEC ranged 6.96-7.32 cmol(+)/kg. The study showed that soil in the area were low in fertility, therefore fertilizer of both organic and inorganic should be supplemented to make the soils more fertile. The soils were found to be free from salinity/sodicity problems at least for now.