Reclamation, land suitability evaluation and management strategy for soils of Tin mined area of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The rate of increase in land area used by man is continuously increasing with population growth, with resultant environmental degradation caused by mining and other anthropogenic activities. However, reclamation as well as land suitability evaluation are considered the basis and critical steps for determining the reuse direction of degraded land caused by several years of mining activities. Therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate the land suitability for different crops production and suggest management practices for their reclamation. Parcel of land covering 224.29 ha on the northern part of Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, Nigeria was surveyed at a detailed scale of 1:6,000. Soil physical condition (petroplinthite), chemical fertility (nutrient retention and availability), low to moderate plant available water, poorly drained condition and erosion hazard were the land qualities that critically limited the suitability of soil mapping units BL II to BL V for the different crops. The evaluation showed that BL I was highly suitable under current suitability for maize, cowpea, green bean, onion and mango (55.55 % of the crops). The crop proportion rated as S1 increased to 88.88 % under potential suitability. The upgrade is expected to occur when the limitations identified are properly managed. Soil unit BL V degraded by previous mining is the least rated with most of the crops as temporarily and permanently not suitable. Land levelling or terrace construction and planting of mango as well as avoidance of bush burning were among management practices suggested to reclaim the deep gully associated with the degraded mined lands. For sustainable crops production and management of the study area; contour ridges, incorporation of organic matter and inorganic fertilizers as well as construction of drainage canals are recommended.