An Evaluation of Soil Development and Productivity on an Agrarian Hillslope of the Jos Plateau, Nigeria

Soil development and productivity are closely related terms affecting crop yields. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nature of soil development and productivity on an agrarian hillslope of the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. The study was conducted through observation of four soil profiles, each located at the summit, back slope, foot slope, and toe slope of the study area, respectively. Fieldwork and morphological observations followed the guidelines provided in the Soil Survey Manual. Standard laboratory procedures were used to analyse soil properties. Soils were of medium texture with significant structural development. Soils were generally acidic, although soil pH buffering capacity values were low and ranged from 350.60 to 908.80 mg kg⁻¹ pH⁻¹. The study shows that the correlation (r = −0.67) between pH buffer capacity and clay is significantly negatively moderate. Soil productivity indices ranged from moderate to high, whereas the Erosion Risk Index ranged from low to moderate across the landscape of the study area. Soil development in the study area varied with respect to topographic position. Soils were poorly developed with the absence of diagnostic horizons at the summit to back slope positions. Soil development increased appreciably from the foot slope to the toe slope positions.