Comparative Assessment of Soil Fertility in Irrigated and Rainfed Farmlands Using Exchangeable Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity in Kura, Kano State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2541.044Keywords:
Irrigation, Exchangeable, Cations, Rain-fed, NutrientsAbstract
Study’s Excerpt:
• Measured soil fertility via CEC and cations in irrigated vs. rainfed soils in Kura, Kano State.
• Both farmland types had CEC and cation values within fertile soil ranges.
• Lower values in irrigated soils linked to continuous cropping, low organic manure use.
• Findings support farmers and extension agents in soil decisions and nutrient management.
• Study may guide better practices to boost productivity in irrigated and rainfed farmlands.
Full Abstract:
The productivity of all farming methods is largely dependent on the soil's fertility, and soil's ability to provide nutrients to crops is the most common way that soil fertility is characterized. The aim of this study was to compare the Exchangeable Cations and Cations Exchange Capacity (CEC) between selected irrigated and rain-fed farmlands of Kura Local Government, Kano State. Soil samples were collected from selected irrigated and rain-fed farming plots at a depth (0-20cm). The BaCl2 Compulsive Exchange method was used to assess the Exchangeable Cations and Cations Exchange Capacity (CEC) samples. The study revealed that the soil samples from irrigated plots have medium to high Ca (2.60-4.05Cmol/kg), Mg (1.625-2.250Cmol/kg), K (0.534-0.897Cmol/kg), and Al (0.094-0.367Cmol/kg) concentrations. Rain-fed plots samples analyzed also had medium to high Ca (3.00-4.90Cmol/kg), Mg (1.625-2.250Cmol/kg), K (0.240-0.897Cmol/kg) and Al (0.094-0.367Cmol/kg) concentrations. The irrigated soil samples had low to medium CEC (5.3 cmol/kg to 7.30 cmol/kg), while the rain-fed soil samples had medium CEC (6.07 cmol/kg to 8.90 cmol/kg). The mean values of the soil parameters analyzed were obtained, and the results were compared with the standard critical limits. The results indicate that soil samples from rain-fed farmlands have higher levels of Exchangeable Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), except for potassium, which was found to be higher in the samples from irrigated farmlands. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p<0.05) between the irrigated and rain-fed samples mean of Magnesium Cation, while the analysis revealed insignificant differences (p>0.05) between the means of Calcium, Potassium, Aluminium, and CEC. However, both the values fell within the range of fertile soil. These findings fit with the existing literature on semi-arid West Africa, stressing the importance of CEC-driven approaches and tailored strategies for increasing agricultural productivity. The research supports the use of combined organic and inorganic fertilizers, referred to as integrated nutrient management, to maintain soil fertility in both systems. Regular testing of the soil is encouraged in order to monitor the nutrients and modify the amendments accordingly.
References
Adamu, G. K., Aliyu, A. K., & Jabbi, A. M. (2014). Fertility assessment of soils under rice cultivation in Kadawa, Garun Mallam Local Government Kano State. International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(1). ISSN-L: 2223-9553, ISSN: 2223-9944.
Alhasan, J. (1996). Determination of CEC and exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K and Na) of soils from Sokoto-Rima River Basin at Kwalkwalawa [Undergraduate project]. Department of Soil Science and Agriculture, Usman Dan Fodio University.
Binns, J. A., Machonachie, R. A., & Tanko, A. I. (2003). Water, land and health in urban and peri-urban food production: The case Kano, Nigeria. www.cityfarmer.org. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.571
Bunu, A., Kyari, Z., Modu, K. A., & Dalorima, T. L. (2019). Fertility status of some irrigated soils under constant irrigation (a case study of Mashamari Area of Jere Local Government Borno State Nigeria). Direct Research Journal of Agriculture and Food Science, 7(12), 350-355. ISSN 2354-4147. https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJAFS83491003
Cuniff, P. A. (Ed.). (2022). Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (16th ed.). Method 2.7.08. Chapter 2, p. 37.
Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es (2009). Building soils for better crops, by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ross, D. S., & Ketterings, Q. (2011). Methods for determining soil cation exchange capacity. Recommended soil testing procedures for the northeastern United States (Cooperative Bulletin No. 493). Last Revised 5/2011.
Esu, I. E. (1991). Detailed soil survey of NIHORT Farm at Bunkure, Kano State, Nigeria. Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmad Bello University.
Getaneh, F., Deressa, A., & Negassa, W. (2007). Influence of small scale irrigation on selected soil chemical properties. Utilization of diversity in land use systems: Sustainable and organic approaches to meet human needs. Tropentag, Witzenhausen, Germany.
Foloronsho, E. (1998). Evaluation of soil fertility status under irrigation in Jakara River Valley: A case study of Air-Port Road-Katsina Road, Kano Metropolis [Post Graduate Diploma in Land Resources Thesis]. Geography Department, Bayero University.
Magdoff, F., & van Es, H. (2009). Building soils for better crops. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Goulding, K. W. T. (2016). Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom. Soil Use and Management, 32, 390-399. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12270
Hazelton, P. A., & Murphy, B. W. (2007). Interpreting soil test results: What do all the numbers mean? CSIRO Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1071/9780643094680
Ilaco, B. V. (1985). Agricultural compendium: For rural development in the tropics and subtropics (pp. 738). Elsevier.
Ackerson, J. P. (2018). Soil sampling guide. https://ag.purdue.edu/Agry/Pages/default.aspx
Lal, R., & Shukla, K. M. (2004). Principles of soil physics (New edition; T. & F. e-library, Ed.). Mercell Decker Inc. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203021231
Landon, J. R. (Ed.). (1991). Booker tropical soil manual: A handbook for soil survey and agricultural land evaluation in the tropics and subtropics (p. 474). Longman Scientific and Technical.
McKenzie, N. J., Jacquier, D. J., Isbell, R. F., & Brown, K. L. (2004). Australian soils and landscapes: An illustrated compendium. CSIRO Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1071/9780643100732
MPCA. (2024). Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Soil parameters standard limits. www.pca.state.mn.us.
Muche, M., Kokeb, A., & Molla, E. (2015). Assessing the physicochemical properties of soil under different land use types. Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0525.1000309
Mustapha, S., Voncir, N., & Umar, S. (2011). Content and distribution of nitrogen forms in some black cotton soils in Akko LGA, Gombe State, Nigeria. International Journal of Soil Science, 6(4), 275-281. https://doi.org/10.3923/ijss.2011.275.281
Oklo, A. D., Armstrong, I. A., Idoko, O. M., Iningev, T. S., Emmanuel, A. A., & Oklo, R. O. (2021). Assessment of soil fertility in terms of essential nutrients contents in the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority Project Sites, Benue State, Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal, 8, e7222. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1107222
Okur, B., & Örçen, N. (2020). Soil salinization and climate change. In M. N. V. Prasad & M. Pietrzykowski (Eds.), Climate change and soil interactions (pp. 331-350). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818032-7.00012-6
Sanda, A. R., & Ismail, Y. M. (2012). Soil fertility assessment of research and teaching farm of Audu Bako College of Agriculture Danbatta, Kano State, Nigeria. Nature Environment and Pollution Technology, 11(4), 639-642. ISSN: 0972-6268.
Sultana, M. S., Rahman, M. H., Rahman, M. S., Sultana, T., & Paul, A. K. (2016). Postharvest soil fertility status of rice (Hybrid Dhan Hira 2) as influenced by vermicompost, pressmud and urea. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 6(1). ISSN 2250-3153.
Sunil, Vikas, K. B., Arun, K., Om, P., & Prashant. (2023). Physico-chemical analysis of soil. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 11.
Tang, S., Pan, W., Tang, R., Ma, Q., Zhou, J., Zheng, N., et al. (2022). Effects of balanced and unbalanced fertilisation on tea quality, yield, and soil bacterial community. Applied Soil Ecology, 175, 104442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104442
Yakasai, U. A., & Rabiu, S. (2024). Physico-chemical assessment of soils used for vegetable cultivation in Kura region of Kano state, Nigeria. FUDMA Journal of Sciences (FJS), 8(4), 90-95. https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2024-0804-2527
USEPA. (2003). Ecological soil screening level for aluminum. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
Uthappa, A. R., Devakumar, A. S., Das, B., Mahajan, G. R., Chavan, S. B., Jinger, D., Jha, P. K., Kumar, P., Kokila, A., Krishnamurthy, R., Mounesh, N. V., Dhanush, C., Ali, I., Eldin, S. M., Al-Ashkar, I., Elshikh, M. S., & Fahad, S. (2024). Comparative analysis of soil quality indexing techniques for various tree based land use systems in semi-arid India. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 6, 1322660. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1322660
Saha, U. K. (2022). Cations exchange capacity and base saturation. University of Georgia. extension.uga.edu.
Yunan, D., Xianliang, Q., & Xiaochen, W. (2018). Study on cation exchange capacity of agricultural soils. Journal of Materials Science and Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/392/4/042039
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sani Umar Sule, Sulaiman Abdulhamid Umar, Abubakar Danlami, Abubakar Ibrahim Mansur
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
