Physicochemical properties as related to mineralogical composition of floodplain soils in humid tropical environment and the pedological significance

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2021-09, Vol.193 (9), p.569-569, Article 569
• Main Authors: Ukabiala, Maduabuchi E., Kolo, Jonah, Obalum, Sunday E., Amhakhian, Sunday O., Igwe, Charles A., Hermensah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidic soils; Acidity; Agricultural resources; Alluvial clays; Alluvial deposits; Alluvium; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carbon sequestration; Cation exchange; Cation exchanging; Cations; Clay; Clay minerals; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental science; Exchange capacity; Exploitation; Fertility; Floodplains; Illite; Illites; Kaolinite; Mineralogy; Minerals; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nutrients; Organic carbon; Organic soils; Phosphorus; Physicochemical processes; Physicochemical properties; Quartz; Sedimentary rocks; Shale; Silt; Silt loam; Soil; Soil chemistry; Soil fertility; Soil formation; Soil pH; Soil properties; Soils; Tropical climate; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Weathering
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09329-y

Floodplains represent a huge but poorly understood and hence underutilised agricultural resource in the tropics. Insight into the pedogenesis of the soils could guide their exploitation. This study assessed the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of floodplain soils and explored the interrelationships among these properties for informed inferences on contemporary pedogenic processes. Surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (69–200 cm) horizons of four pedons of River Benue floodplains (central Nigeria) on shale/alluvium were sampled and analysed. The physicochemical and mineralogical properties were examined for relationships whose pedological significance was discussed. Silt and clay contents were in the ranges of 117–614 and 50–500 g kg –1 , respectively, being generally higher in the surface and sub-surface horizons, respectively. The soils are young with one surface horizon being silt loam. The surface horizons had higher soil pH (5.9) but lower soil organic carbon (12.63 g kg –1 ), total nitrogen (1.05 g kg –1 ), effective cation exchange capacity (18.58 cmol kg –1 ), and available phosphorus (5.50 mg kg –1 ) than the sub-surface horizons. The minerals followed the order quartz