Spatial Variability and Fertility Mapping for Site-Specific Management of a Smallholder Farm in.....

Farmers' technique of applying fertilisers in a uniform manner ignores the natural variety of nutrients in the soil. For site-specific soil nutrients management, this study investigated and mapped the spatial variability of various soil parameters on a smallholder maize farm in Minna, north-central Nigeria. The research was carried out on a 1.13-hectare farm. The farm was divided into 9 subplots, each measuring 35 m × 35 m. A geo-referenced soil sample was obtained at 0-20 cm depth in each subplot for interpolation and mapping purposes. Particle size distribution, soil response (pH), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), accessible phosphorus (P), and potassium were all measured in the lab (K). To define the regional variability of the nutrients in the soil, data from laboratory analysis was subjected to descriptive statistics. The spatial distribution of the measured characteristics was mapped using Surfer 11 GIS software using point krigging interpolation techniques. The soils ranged in texture from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. The reaction of the soil was slightly acidic to neutral. Nitrogen levels were high throughout the soil, but K levels fluctuated from high to low. All of the soils had low phosphorus levels. Soil organic carbon (CV = 51.17%), nitrogen (CV = 36.11%), and potassium (CV = 47.62%) all displayed significant geographic variability, whereas silt (CV = 27.72%) and phosphorus (CV = 27.50%) had moderate spatial variability. Land configuration (CV = 9.37 percent), sand (CV = 5.18 percent), clay (CV = 13.66 percent), and pH (CV = 1.64 percent) all had minimal spatial variability. Micro-relief has no effect on the distribution of soil separates (P =.05). Mapping could aid in the division of the farm into generally uniform units, allowing for site-specific control of SOC, N, and K with considerable spatial variability.

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