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Nov 24, 2014Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Moisture Retention Characteristics of Soils of Different Lithosequences In Southeastern Nigeria in Relation to Particle Size Distribution
Abstract
Moisture retention characteristics varied among soils within southeastern Nigeria. Soils were derived from Alluvium, Coastal Plain Sands, Shale, Lower Coal Measures, Upper Coal Measures and Falsebedded Sandstones. Geologic map of southeastern Nigeria was used to identify sampling points in the field. Random soil sampling technique was used in locating sampling points. Regression analysis was conducted to establish relationship between soil moisture retention and some soil properties using SAS Computer Software. Soils formed from Lower Coal Measures had highest mean total available water capacity (TAW = 27.40) while those soils derived from Shale had highest soil moisture retention (SMR) of 55.19. The TAW values ranged from 4.03 to 27.40. Least total available water was found in soils over alluvium (4.03). Total available water had a significant relationship with total sand (R2 = 0.56, P=0.01). Soil moisture retention characteristic dependent variable was highly predicted by independent variables of total sand, clay content and organic carbon at various tension levels of 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 1.5 Mpa having R2 values of 0.86, 0.79, 0.73 and 0.76, respectively
Keywords: Parent materials. Pedogenesis, Soil moisture availability and soil texture
