Assessment of the Effects of Seasonal Flooding on the Properties of Floodplain Soils of Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of seasonal flooding on the properties of floodplain soils of Wukari Area of Taraba state. The treatments consisted of five different locations of Gidan-Idi, Gindin-Dorowa, Tsokundi, Rafin-Kada and Nwuko and three different soil sample depths of 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, and 40-60 cm laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Soil samples were collected from each plot in 2016 and 2017. All soil samples were analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The results obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using F-LSD test at p≤.05. The results of the soil properties analysis showed that some of the determined parameters were significantly different at the different sample locations at p≤.05. The soils of Wukari Floodplains are mostly clay loam in texture having very slightly acid to neutral soil reaction, moderate organic matter, low total N, moderate available P, low exchangeable bases and CEC. The flood plain soils were moderate in soil fertility, a confirmation of the general characteristic of Savanna soils. The soils were not deficient in micronutrients. Seasonal flooding had significant (positive) influence on some physical and chemical properties of the flood plains most particularly at Rafin-Kada.