SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATION OF SOIL PROPERTIES ON CASSAVA PRODUCTION IN SOUTHERN CROSS RIVER STATE, SOUTH-SOUTH, NIGERIA
M. A. ABUA *
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
A. I. AFANGIDEH
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
S. W. ASHUA
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cassava is one of the most important stable food and industrial crops in Africa because of its variety of uses and its adaptation to a wide range of climatic and edaphic conditions. This study is aimed at evaluating the spatio-temporal variation of soil properties on cassava production in Southern Cross River State of Nigeria. Soil samples were randomly collected from nine cultivated cassava farms. Four transects, each 7.0 km long were established in the four cardinal directions. Nine soil profiles comprising two in each direction and the starting point were selected along the transect; soil samples were collected at each horizon(s) in each profile and were analyzed for physico-chemical properties. Ten cassava plots of 10m2 were randomly selected from an area of 10,000 m2 for yield parameter analysis. The yield parameter was correlated with soil properties using Pearson’s moment and multiple regression analysis. The soil properties (top and sub soils) were sand (886±38 and 819±5.0 g/kg), silt (46±2.0 g/kg and 6.4±20 g/kg), clay (754±4.6 g/kg and 117±3.4 g/kg), organic matter (130±1.9 g/kg and 29±5.0 g/kg) and electrical conductivity (0.045±0.02 dm-1). The results showed high association with organic matter (r = 0.72), pore space (r = 0.64), exchange acidity (r = 0.63), and negative association with moisture content (r = -0.61), ca: mg ratio (r = 0.59). The study further revealed that 89% of changes in cassava tubes – yield was explained by soil properties. Organic matter (P<0.05), and ca: mg (p<0.01) significantly influenced tuber yield as the mean cassava yield in Akpabuyo study area was (47.71 tons/ha). Cassava cultivation in the study area is on the increase, probably on account of the country’s initiative on cassava production in the country is view of the country’s comparative advantage of production capacity and as a major staple food crop in diets of many Nigerians. These and other reasons were some of the conceivable reasons (including weather variables) as to why cultivable areas and yield increased over the years in the ecological zone.
Keywords: Cassava yield, Spatio-temporal variation, soil properties, Southern Cross River