CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS ALONG RIVER DONGA, DONGA, TARABA STATE, NIGERIA

This study was carried out to ascertain the characterization and classification of soils along river Donga in Donga local government area of Taraba State. Three profile pits were dug on the flat terrain for the physio-chemical properties of the soils. The pits were described and samples were collected for routine laboratory analysis for the selected physio-chemicals properties. Data collected were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) The result of the laboratory analysis of the physical and chemical properties indicated that particle size distribution of sand particle dominated other fraction of fine earth materials. This can be attributed to the parent materials that gave rise to the soils.The pH (H2O) was slightly acidic in reaction in all the pedons studied (6.44, 5.82 and 5.67). The organic carbon content ranges from very low to low compared to the maximum level (5%) for tropical soils. Available phosphorus obtained exceeded the critical limits of 8.0 to >18mg/kg, which indicates that the available phosphorus were high. The exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K & Na) as indicated in the table 3 that Ca, Mg, K & Na were low in all the pedons studied. The results obtained from analyzed profile samples showed that percentage (%) base saturation values for all the pedons were high. The Correlation was done to determine non-significant and significant values among soil physio-chemical properties studied at 5% and 1% probability level. In addition, after the profile description and examination of the soil properties of the study area, the soils were classified using USDA soil taxonomy (2014). Pedons 1 and 2 are classified into the order of Alfisols and sub-group of Typical Haplustalf while pedon 3 is also classified into Alfisols but sub-group of Arenickandiustals (Hypereuticlixisels).