Properties, Classification and Suitability Evaluation of Some Selected Cocoa Soils of South-Western Nigeria

Some selected Cocoa soils of Ekiti State were characterized, classified and evaluated for Cocoa production. Soil samples from pedogenic horizons were analysed. The study revealed four major soil units located at four different sites (Aisegba, Ayedun, Ise and Ikoro). All the soils are well drained but concretional and gravelly in nature. Soil texture consists of sandyloam surface and clayloam/silt loam and clay in th e subsurface. The soils are moderately acidic in reaction (6.16) and have low amounts of organic carbon (0.21-1.52%). The effective cation exchange capacities and percentage base saturations are low ranging from 0.70-1.51 meq/ 100 g of soil and 42.86-83.33%, respectively. The Aisegba and Ikoro soils classify as Tupic PIinthudult (Eutric Plinthosol-Ondo series) while Ayedun soils classify as Typic Udipsamment (Cambic Arenosol-Makun series and Ise soil was classified as Acrudoxic Plinthic Kandiudult (Eutric Plinthosol-Fagbo series). The major limitations of the soils are the gravelly Concretional nature of the soils, poor soil fertility and low rainfall distribution. On the basis of these limitations, all the soils have been classified as S3 cfs (marginally suitable) for cocoa production.