Mineralogical Characteristics of Soils in Southern Taraba State Northeast, Nigeria

Abstract

Mineralogy of fadama soils of southern Taraba state was carried alongside its influence on the soil’s physical and chemical properties. The three local government areas selected for this study were Ibi, Wukari and Donga. The mineralogical compositions of the soils were evaluated using the clay fraction. X- ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed ibi had quartz (21%), microcline (47%) and kaolinite (25%), Wukari Tsukundi had quartz (17%), microcline (20%) and kaolinite (32%), phlogopite (15.4%) and gibbsite (23%) while Donga had mineral composition of quartz (20%), microcline (33%) and kaolinite (47%) and therefore the clay minerals are interstratified (mixed mineralogy). The soil textures in these mapping units (MUs) are sandy clay loam (SCL), loam sand (LS) and sandy loam (SL) in the Ap horizons of pedons I, 2 and 3 respectively.  The subsurface horizons are Silt Loam, SCL and LS. The silt clay ratio (SCR) indicated that the soils are relatively young soils with reserved weatherable minerals, mean SCR were 1.40, 1.50 and 4.00 in pedons 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The acidity decreased as the profile depth increased and it was moderately acidic soil with pH(KCl) ranged from 5.92- 4.75 for pedons. The delta pH (\(\Delta\)pH) of the soils showed all negative values; this indicated that the soil colloids contained appreciable silicate clay minerals with relatively constant surface charge while C/N ratios indicated advanced stage of organic matter decomposition. Percentage Al saturation to the TEA stood at 15%, 19% and 9% for pedons I, 2 and 3 respectively, The exchangeable Ca constitutes above 70 % of the total exchangeable bases (TEB). The percentage base saturation (%BS), was largely dominated by exchangeable cations in moderately to very high rating and their mean values are 80%, 77% and 74% for pedons I, 2 and 3 respectively. The arrays of minerals are at different stages of weathering- quartz and phlogopite at moderate stage of weathering, microcline at minimal stage of weathering while kaolinite and gibbsite are at intense weathering stages. These minimally and moderately weathered soils are generally considered to be of good fertility status. The soils were classified as Alfisols/Entisols mix.