Prediction of the productivity of floodplain soils in Taraba state using productivity models

Abstract

A study was carried out to quantify the productivity level of floodplain soils in Taraba state using Neill’s Productivity Index (PI) and Modified Neill’s Productivity Index (PI_M). Fields and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effects of locations on distribution of bulk density, available water capacity, pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, iron oxide and aluminium oxide at different soil depths, and its effects on soil productivity. The bulk density and available water capacity were found to increase with soil depths while the soil pH, organic matter, available phosphorus, iron oxide and aluminium oxide were found to decrease with soil depths at all the locations investigated. The results show that soil productivity index was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by locations of the floodplains.