FACTORS AFFECTING SOIL QUALITY MAINTENANCE IN NORTHERN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was set-up to determine the key factors affecting
soil quality maintenance in Kaita, Mai-adua and Mashi local
government areas (LGAs) of Katsina state, Nigeria. Two
hundred and forty soil samples were collected and 600
questionnaires administered to obtain information on the
various forms of activities affecting soil quality maintenance
in the area. The soil samples were analyzed for selected
physical and chemical quality indices. Factors affecting soil
quality maintenance in the area according to the findings are
natural and man-induced, including agricultural practices in
general and deforestation, soil degradation and erosion, as
well as biodiversity loss in particular. The results also
indicated that values of the selected elements affecting soil
quality in all the 3 LGAs studied fell below minimum
standards. Soils in 2 of the LGAs (Mai-adua and Mashi) were
concluded to be sensitive to plant growth. Caution should,
however, be exercised for soils of Kaita LGA that are
extremely sensitive so as not to continue to increase in
salinity. It is recommended that farm management practices
in the area should be improved and use of irrigation water
encouraged among farmers to check salt accumulation.