An Assessment of Micronutrient Status in Soils Derived from Three Parent Materials on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Abstract

 Parent materials play significant roles in determining the resultant characteristics of various soils. However, not much information is available on their micronutrient status of soil of the Jos Plateau. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess plant available Cu, Zn, Mn and B in soils derived from migmatite, granite gneiss and biotite granite parent materials on the Jos Plateau. Seven profile pits were dug in each geologic unit and soil samples obtained using guidelines in the soil survey manual. Available Cu, Zn, and Mn in soil samples were determined using the 0.1 M HCl extraction method and data collected was subjected to one-way analysis of variance. The results indicated that there were significantly higher contents of available Cu in the A horizon for soil derived from migmatite than in those over biotite granite or granite gneiss. Mean available Cu contents in the A horizon were 1.61 (± 0.35), 1.7125 (± 0.96), and 3.33 mg/kg (± 0.16) for granite gneiss, biotite granite and migmatite respectively; whereas for the B horizon mean contents were 2.06 (± 0.40), 2.98 (± 1.31), and 4.13 mg/kg (± 1.93) for granite gneiss, biotite granite and migmatite respectively. Generally, there were no significant differences in distribution of Mn, Zn and B among the geologic units. Implying that soils derived from migmatite, granite gneiss and biotite granite seems to behave similarly in contents of available Cu, Mn, Zn and B. Also, soil particle size had a significant moderate relationship with Cu and may influence its distribution in these soils.