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Variations in selected soil physical properties with landforms and slope within an inland valley ecosystem in Ashanti region of Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Sunday E. Obalum

    (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)

  • John C. Nwite

    (Department of Crop Production Technology, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Nigeria)

  • James Oppong

    (CSIR, Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Charles A. Igwe

    (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)

  • Toshiyuki Wakatsuki

    (School of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nara, Japan$2)

Abstract

One peculiar feature of the inland valleys abundant in West Africa is their site-specific hydrology, underlain mainly by the prevailing landforms and topography. Development and management of these land resources under the increasingly popular sawah (a system of bunded, puddled and levelled rice field with facilities for irrigation and drainage) technology is a promising opportunity for enhancing rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in the region. Information on the variations in selected soil physical properties as influenced by the prevailing landforms may serve as a useful guide in site selection. This is of practical importance since majority of the inland valleys are potentially unsuitable for sawah development and most farmers in the region are of low technical level. Three landforms (river levee, elevated area and depressed area) were identified within a sawah field located in an inland valley at Ahafo Ano South District of Ghana. Each of these landforms was topsoil-sampled along on identified gradient (top, mid and bottom slope positions). Parameters determined included particle size distribution, bulk density, total porosity and field moisture content. The soil is predominantly clayey. There were no variations in the particle size distribution among the slope positions in the river levee. Overall, the river levee had lower silt content than the elevated and the depressed landforms. The bulk density, total porosity, and gravimetric moisture content indicated relative improvements only in the depressed area in the order, bottom > mid > top slope. Irrespective of slope position, the three landforms differed in these parameters in the order, depressed > river levee > elevated. The sand fraction impacted negatively on the silt fraction and bulk density of the soil, both of which controlled the soil moisture status. Despite the fairly low silt content of the soil, the silt fraction strongly influenced the gravimetric moisture content (R2 = 0.80). So too did the soil bulk density on the gravimetric moisture content (R2 = 0.90). It is concluded that: (1) since the landforms more prominently influenced the measured parameters than the slope positions, the former should take pre-eminence over the latter in soil suitability judgment; (2) with respect to moisture retention, variations in silt fraction and bulk density of this and other clayey inland-valley soils should be used as guide in site selection for sawah development.

Suggested Citation

  • Sunday E. Obalum & John C. Nwite & James Oppong & Charles A. Igwe & Toshiyuki Wakatsuki, 2011. "Variations in selected soil physical properties with landforms and slope within an inland valley ecosystem in Ashanti region of Ghana," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 73-82.
  • Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:6:y:2011:i:2:id:17-2010-swr
    DOI: 10.17221/17/2010-SWR
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ogban, P. I. & Babalola, O., 2003. "Soil characteristics and constraints to crop production in inland valley bottoms in southwestern Nigeria," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 13-28, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hailu ADDIS & Andreas KLIK & Theib OWEIS & Stefan STROHMEIER, 2016. "Linking selected soil properties to land use and hillslope - A watershed case study in the Ethiopian Highlands," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 11(3), pages 163-171.
    2. Orji J. E. & Igwe C. A. & Ezeaku P. I. & Osuji E. E. & Iroegbu C. S. & Emeka C. P. O. & Chinaka I. C. & Dada O. & Ankrumah E. & Osang E. A. & Amenkhienan B. E., 2023. "Variation in Soil Physicochemical Properties of Different Land Use Types in Abakaliki, South Eastern Nigeria," Journal of Agriculture and Crops, Academic Research Publishing Group, vol. 9(4), pages 462-471, 10-2023.

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