This study evaluates the fertility of small scale farmers’ field in Ijumu Area of Kogi State. The area lies within the Southern
Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria. The study area is having three districts; Ijumu Oke, Ijumu Arin and Gbedde. 60 farmers
were identified through the Agricultural Development Agency and questionnaires were administered to them to identify soil
management practices and problems among the farmers. Soil samples were collected from three farmers’ field, one farmer
field per district. The questionnaires were collated and analyzed using percentage while fertility evaluation was done using the
Fertility Capability Classification system version 4. Results obtained, revealed that mixed Cropping (88.33%), continuous
Cropping (80%), use of Mulching (90%) are common among farmers in the area. 85% of the respondents do not carry out soil
testing. Problems such as reduction in crop yield (75%), depletion of soil nutrients (85%), sloppiness of farm land (40%) and
erosion (28.33%) were identified by farmers in the area. The majority of the farmers use basic implements/ manual labour
(86.67%) for land cultivation. They do not use organic manure (85%) and do not plant legumes for soil fertility maintenance
(68.33%). The Fertility Capability Classification revealed that Ijumu Oke soil could be classified as Lca, Ijumu Arin; LLak
and Gbede; CCaSC which indicates that the capability of the soils of the study area to produce at the three locations is
conditioned by texture of the soil surface and subsoil, acidity and aluminum toxicity. It is concluded that there is need for
improvement on soil management practices in other to sustain the productivity of soils of study area.
Babalola, T. (2019). EVALUATION OF SOIL FERTILITY OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS’ FIELDS IN IJUMU AREA SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/12-babalola-et-al
Babalola, Temitope "EVALUATION OF SOIL FERTILITY OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS’ FIELDS IN IJUMU AREA SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA" Afribary. Afribary, 27 Jun. 2019, https://track.afribary.com/works/12-babalola-et-al. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Babalola, Temitope . "EVALUATION OF SOIL FERTILITY OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS’ FIELDS IN IJUMU AREA SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA". Afribary, Afribary, 27 Jun. 2019. Web. 20 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/12-babalola-et-al >.
Babalola, Temitope . "EVALUATION OF SOIL FERTILITY OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS’ FIELDS IN IJUMU AREA SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA" Afribary (2019). Accessed November 20, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/12-babalola-et-al