Abstract
The major soils of Kwara State were identified using the FDALR- produced soil map of Nigeria. These soils were mapped. Soil samples were taken from pedogenic horizons and analysed in the laboratory for further characterization and classification. The soils developed on basement complex rocks are gravely while those developed on sandstone are more sandy and free of coarse fragments. The soils are generally very deep (at least 150 cm) with dark colours having values and chromas <4 at the Ap horizons and variable colours at the subsoil. The soils are sandy to loamy in texture. They are moderately acidic to neutral in pH and generally low in exchangeable bases, Ca and Mg dominate the exchangeable sites. They are also low in Fe, Mn and Zn. The soils are classified as typic and plinthic paleustalfs; Typic Kaudiustalfs; Rhodic Tropustalfs and Vertic and Arenic ustropepts of the Soil Survey Staff (1992). They are also classified as Ferric, plinthic, Orthic and Arenic Luvisols; Vertic cambisols and cambic Arenosols of FAO (1988). All the soils are arable with little amendments except pedon III of Ilorin that is plinthic and may require sub soiling or used for dry season farming.
Keywords:
taxonomic classification
characterization
agricultural potential.
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