Assessment of physicochemical properties of Besease wetland soils, Ghana
| Autor: | Emmanuel Amankwah, Alex Amerh Agbeshie, Gilbert Ayine Akolgo, Thomas Atta-Darkwa, Eric Oppong Danso, Prosper Achaw Owusu, Samuel Kwasi Asomaning |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Hydrology
geography geography.geographical_feature_category Soil test Wetland 010501 environmental sciences Silt 01 natural sciences 010101 applied mathematics Loam Soil water Environmental science Soil horizon Infiltrometer 0101 mathematics General Agricultural and Biological Sciences Water content 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| Zdroj: | African Journal of Agricultural Research. 15:509-523 |
| ISSN: | 1991-637X |
| Popis: | The shallow and erodible soils of low fertility uplands have led to farmers extending their cultivable areas to wetlands for optimal crop production since these systems have the potential for exploitation in the dry season. To ensure its sustainable use, the physicochemical and the hydrological characteristics of the valley bottom should be ascertained. Studies were conducted to assess the suitability of wetlands for crop production by analysing the physicochemical properties of Besease wetland soils. Soil samples were collected from specific sites and profile pits for physical and chemical analysis in the laboratory. Field experiments were also conducted for soil physical properties. Soil textural analysis revealed that the average texture of the Besease inland valley was sandy loam with the distribution of sand, silt and clay as 55.42, 35.04 and 9.50%, respectively. Bulk density and moisture content on the field increased with depth in all profiles. Results of hydraulic conductivity using the mini disk infiltrometer ranged from 2 to 88.3 cm/day. The infiltration rate on the studied wetland ranged from 0.02 to 0.78 cm/min. The pH, OC, TN and CEC of the soil profile distribution for site P11-P14 obtained ranged from 6.9-4.6, 4.69-0.19%, 0.2-0.01%, 9- 2.6 meq/100 g down the horizon respectively. The study unraveled a sustained plant nutrient availability and elongation of water level ponding which will result in increased water storage under rice cultivation in the studied wetland. Key words: Wetlands, physicochemical, crop production, nutrient, water storage. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|