Assessing Soil Spatial Variability for Increased Crop Productivity in a Granitic Gneiss Terrain

Oduwole Ayodele & Mustapha Aliat Gbemisola, Volume 6 Issue 2, December 2025 Pages 1-9, Published: 2025-10-29

Abstract

This study identifies soil spatial variability by examining the various physiochemical properties of soil in the study area. Other properties such as soil texture, pH value, bulk density, climate, precipitation and temperature were considered to map the suitability of the soil for increased cashew production. The cashew plantation in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria served as the study area, where pits were dug for soil profiling. A soil spatial interval of 100metres was adopted for analysis and documented through the guidelines by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 1977, and the 1981 Soil Survey Staff classification. The horizon classification was taken from soil samples collected dug pits and tagged to their respective layers in the profile. These samples were air dried and crushed for a 2mm sieving process prior physiochemical analysis. The pH of the soil was between 4.8 – 5.6 values. The soil in the study area revealed low levels of important nutrients, especially organic carbon and nitrogen. The soil seemed moderately suitable for cashew plantation where little soil enhancement is required for increased productivity and conservation. The soil showed poor water holding capacity (WHC) and wilting point (WP). The moisture content turned out low. The result of the differences in the topsoil and the subsoil horizons were factored by the illuvial and eluvial clay transport. Consequently, in order to enhance cashew products, the soil in the area requires the application of organic manure such as dungs, compost to produce more nitrogen and other necessary nutrients required by cashew-producing soil. Also, the moisture content of the soil is low resulting in low WHC and WP. For improvement in the soil’s efficiency, the amendments like manure application, nitrogen increment and water holding capacity should be considered