Physical and chemical characterization of some selected soils in University of Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria

A semi-detailed survey was conducted to characterize some physical and chemical properties of soils of Teaching and Research Farm University of Maiduguri, Borno State. Three sites were selected on the basis of land forms and surface texture and their description were taken using two soil profile pits at each sites. The soils collected were subjected to laboratory analysis using standard procedure. The colour of the soils changes at both surface and subsurface layers within each layer due to reduction in organic matter content down the profile, majority of the topsoil layer were brown while light yellowish orange were found in the subsoil layer.The consistency of the soil changed from hard at the surface layers to soft at subsurface layers. Soil reaction ranged from6.72 to 7.36which is neutral to slightly alkaline at both surface and subsurface layer and the electrical conductivity shows no salinity effect at both surface and subsurface layers. Cation Exchange Capacacity ranged from 10.09 to 15.97 Cmol/kg which was very low. Organic carbon content was generally low to moderate which ranged from 0.2 to 0.60 % due to poor return in organic matter content. The soil texture of the surface and subsurface was predominately sandy loam. Sand content of P2 ranged from 537g/kg to 762 g/kg, silt ranged from 141 (P4) to 441 (P1) g/kg and clay from 72 (P2) and 147 (P4) g/kg. Available phosphorus and potassium tend to be low while sodium was high, magnesium showed to be medium to high, while calcium was also low to medium. Bulk density of the soils, increases with increase in depth and the hydraulic conductivity decreases with increase in depth. The chemical and physical properties of the soil are good for crop production except for sodium that is high, which need some management practices for optimum crop production and as such evaluation on the capability and suitability of the area should be conducted.