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SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATION OF SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES ALONG RIVER BENUE FLOODPLAINS, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Author(s): Akwoga J.A, Gundiri J. W, Vahyala.I.E, Zata. A. I
Volume/Issue: Volume 6 , Issue 1(2026)
ABSTRACT:
This study evaluated the effects of spatial and temporal soil chemical variations are crucial forsustainable land management, especially along floodplain ecosystems. The interaction betweenlocation and season on selected soil chemical properties along the River Benue floodplain inAdamawa State, Nigeria was investigated. Soil samples were collected from upstream, midstream,and downstream sites during wet and dry seasons and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity(EC), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AVP), exchangeablecations, cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (BS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR),and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Results indicated spatial and seasonal variations inmost soil chemical parameters. Soil pH was slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.02 to 6.99. ECvalues were significantly higher at the midstream (0.32 dS/m) compared to upstream (0.17 dS/m)and downstream (0.15 dS/m). Organic matter and total nitrogen showed minimal variation, whileavailable phosphorus and exchangeable bases varied significantly among locations. Themidstream soils generally had higher fertility indices due to sediment deposition andanthropogenic inputs. These findings underscore the importance of location-specific soilmanagement to enhance agricultural productivity along the River Benue floodplain.
KEYWORDS:
River Benue, Soil Properties, Location, Season, Floodplain, Adamawa State.
