Suitability evaluation of some peri-urban soils for rainfed arable crop production in Lagos State, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the suitability of some Peri-urban soils in Lagos statefor arable crop production. Six pedons classified as Alagba (Rhodic Hapludult), Dodokindo(Plinthic Kandiudult), Idesan (Typic Endoaquept), Owode (Typic Kandiudult), Atan(Fluvaquentic Endoaquept) and Pakoto (Plinthic Kandiudult) Series identified at twostudy sites located at Igbokuta and Ibomwon communities in Ikorodu and Epe LocalGovernment Areas of Lagos state were evaluated. The land use potentials for maize,cassava and leafy vegetables (Amaranth family) were assessed following the conventionalnon-parametric and the parametric (square root) methods of land suitability evaluationaccording to the revised FAO framework. All the pedons were rated as marginally suitable(S3) for maize except Idesan and Owode Series that made up 2.53% and 34.74% of thetotal area respectively, which were rated moderately suitable (S2). With respect tocassava and leafy vegetables, all the pedons were rated marginally suitable (S3) exceptAtan Series occupying 19.71 % of the total area, that was rated non-suitable (N1). Themajor limitations to sustainable crop production in all pedons were low nutrient supply(N, K, P and cations) coupled with high soil acidity (pH of between 3.9 and 5.8). In additionto this, Idesan and Atan series also have waterlogging problem hence may not be used forcultivating the afore-mentioned crops, but could be used for swamp rice. With appropriateliming, soil fertility management and proper drainage, most of the pedons may be rated asbeing moderately suitable (S2) for the cultivation of these crops. As a peri-urban area withhigh demand for agricultural products, year-round cropping with irrigation facilities isquite promising in most of the pedons studied.