Status of micronutrients in soils of a basement complex area of Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

A great deal of research has underscored the role of micronutrients in plant nutrition and crop production. The objective of this study is to examine the status of total and available copper, zinc, nickel, iron and manganese in soils of the study area in relation to crop production and soil genesis. The landscape of the study area was stratified into different five parts using with two soil profiles dug at random in each slope unit. Soil samples were obtained from genetic horizons. The 0.1 M HCl extraction method was used to determine available Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn in the soil samples while total Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Mn were extracted after a mixed acid digestion involving perchloric, nitric and sulphuric acids. Total and available contents of copper were generally low in the soils and crops grown on these soils may suffer from copper deficiency. Total zinc and nickel were higher than acceptable limits in the soils and suggest that the soils may have been polluted or contaminated. Very high values of available iron were observed most especially at intermediate to bottom slope areas suggesting that crops grown on these soils may suffer from iron toxicity.