DISTRIBUTION OF SOME MICRO-NUTRIENTS IN A COASTAL PLAIN SAND PARENT MATERIAL

ABSTRACT

Distribution of some micronutrients was studied in coastal plain sand parent material in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State with the view to determine their distribution. Soil samples were collected with the aid of an auger at soil depth 0 – 15, 15 – 30, 30 – 45, and 45 – 60 cm. A total of sixteen (16) soil samples were used for this studies. Results showed that a higher amount of silt was found at the top layer with 0-15cm depth. The textural class was sand 887.0g. kg. The pH was higher at the first soil depth across mean values of 5.7, 6.6,5.4,5.4 at WAEC, Ohonsa, Iyanomon and Ukhiri respectively while the Organic carbon ranges from 13.67 – 25.07 gkg-1 , 11.17 – 22.30 gkg-1 , 12.80 – 29.97 gkg-1 , 13.77 – 30.97 gkg-1 at WAEC, Ohonsa, Iyanomon and Ukhiri respectively. The amount of exchangeable cations was low in the WAEC and Ohonsa areas of Ikpoba Okha Local Governmen tArea when compared to the critical values (0.031) also, the amount of exchangeable bases was low in the Iyanomon and Ukihri areas when compared to the critical values (0.034). At soil depth 15-30cm hydrogen ion ranges from 0.12 to 0,13cmol/kg with a mean of 0,13cmol/kg, at 45-60cm, it ranges from 0.21 and 0.22cmol/kg with a mean of 0.22 cmol/kg which shows that hydrogen ions were higher in the last soil depth when compared to the critical limits. The least significant difference amongst the soil depth and location shows no significant difference at 5% level of probability. The amount of zinc and Manganese were more at the topsoil. The result further indicated that the least significant difference between the location and depth of Manganese and zinc shows no difference at 5% level of probability. It further shows that there is a higher amount of iron when compared to other micronutrients which shows that the soil in these areas is acidic due to continuous cultivation, leaching of some nutrients and age of the parent material.