Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T15:13:37.211Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Soil Formation in Southern Nigeria. (The “Ilepa” Profile.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. C. Doyne
Affiliation:
(Department of Agriculture, Nigeria).
W. A. Watson
Affiliation:
(Department of Agriculture, Nigeria).

Summary

1. The typical profile of south-western Nigeria formed over acid igneous rocks under alternating conditions of percolation and evaporation is described. The profile being (a) brown sandy soil, (b) concretion layer, (c) red clay, (d) mottled red and white clay, (e) whitish clay, (f) rotting rock. Acidity increases with depth.

2. Analyses of the concretion layer show that it consists chiefly of silica (quartz), ferric oxide, and occasionally some manganese. Alumina does not occur to a large extent.

3. From studies of the mobility of the iron and soluble salts throughout the profile it is suggested that the profile is developed by a rise of an iron sol which is deposited on a layer of quartz to form the concretions.

4. The Yoruba name “Il***pa” has been adopted by the authors for describing such a profile.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1933

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

(1)Joseph, A. F. and Martin, F. J.J. Agric. Sci. (1921), 11, 293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(2)Kühn, S.Z. Pflanz. Düng (1930), A, 15, 13.Google Scholar
(3)Williams, R.J. Agric. Sci. (1928), 18, 439 and (1929), 19, 589.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(4)Hutchinson, H. B. and Maclennan, K.J. Agric. Sci. (1915), 7, 75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(5)Hardy, F., Akhurst, C. G. and Griffith, G.Studies in West Indian Soils (III), p. 8. Supplement to Trop. Agr. Feb. 1931.Google Scholar
(6)Comber, N. M.J. Agric. Sci. (1920), 10, 420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
(7)Gracie, D. S. and Le Poer Trench, A. D.Soil conditions affecting coffee in Kenya. Dept. of Agric. Kenya, Bull. 7 (1931).Google Scholar