TITLE:
A Comparative Study of Element Cycling in the Soil-Plant System: A Case Study of Shaly and Calcareous Soils, Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
T. N. Nganje, C. I. Adamu
KEYWORDS:
Soil Plant System, Cycling of Elements, Calcareous Soils, Shaly Soils, Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.5 No.4,
April
28,
2014
ABSTRACT: This
study focused on the cycling of major and trace elements in the soil-plant
system in parts of Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. Surface soil samples and
cassava crop samples were collected from cultivated farmlands underlined by
shaly and calcareous soils and were analysed using standard techniques. The
results show that shaly soils are relatively acidic (pH, 4.8 - 6.6) with high
level of organic matter content (OM, 3.2% - 8.7%) compared to calcareous soils
(pH, 5.6 - 7.2; OM 1.6% - 7.0%). The soils are enriched in elemental
composition relative to the world average abundances in soil. The maximum
levels of K, Al, and Zn were obtained from shaly soils. The computed
accumulation factors are generally leaf > stem. Significant correlation was
obtained between elemental associations of calcareous surface soils compared to
that of shaly soils. R-mode factor analysis revealed the controls of soil
geochemistry to include lithology, anthropogenic and environmental factors. A
stepwise linear regression analysis identified soil elemental component, pH and
organic matter as some of the factors influencing soil-plant metal uptake.