Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria:- Amaeshi, Chinedu P
ABSTRACT
A
survey of soils of Ulakwo, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, was
conducted to characterize and evaluate the suitability of the soils for
sustainable production of oil palm. The area was reconnaissansized and four
mapping units delineated. A representative profile pit was dug in each mapping
unit and described according to international procedures and standard methods.
Soil samples were collected and analyzed for their physical and chemical
properties and the land was assessed for oil palm cultivation. Results revealed
well drained and deep soils. Texture showed sandy loam overlying sandy clay
loam. Soils were very strongly - strongly acidic (4.5-5.5) with very low
(subsurface) to moderate (surface) organic carbon (0.12 - 1.24 %). Available
phosphorous was moderate (7.7 - 26.3 mgkg’1). There were generally low
exchangeable bases and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC). The non-
parametric approach of suitability evaluation by simple limitation method
indicated that the soils currently under refuse dumps, oil palm cultivation and
one year fallow in the study area were moderately suitable (S2) for oil palm
production while soils under continuous cassava cultivation were evaluated
marginally suitable (S3) for oil palm cultivation on fertility grounds of low
organic carbon content. Since the soils were low in fertility and highly
acidic, the judicious use of lime and supplemented with organic manure and NPK
fertilizers are recommended.
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AMAESHI (2025). Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria:- Amaeshi, Chinedu P. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Oct 07, 2025, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-amaeshi-chinedu-p-7-2
AMAESHI. "Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria:- Amaeshi, Chinedu P" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 02 Oct. 2025, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-amaeshi-chinedu-p-7-2. Accessed 07 Oct. 2025.
AMAESHI. "Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria:- Amaeshi, Chinedu P". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 02 Oct. 2025. Web. 07 Oct. 2025. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-amaeshi-chinedu-p-7-2 >.
AMAESHI. "Soil Survey And Land Suitability Evaluation For Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineesis) Cultivation In Ulakwo, Owerri North, Imo State Nigeria:- Amaeshi, Chinedu P" Mouau.afribary.org (2025). Accessed 07 Oct. 2025. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/soil-survey-and-land-suitability-evaluation-for-oil-palm-elaeis-guineesis-cultivation-in-ulakwo-owerri-north-imo-state-nigeria-amaeshi-chinedu-p-7-2