LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION OF TWO TOPOSEQUENCE

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out at Iguzama community to assess the capability for arable crop production. The methodology involved rigid grid soil identification and mapping at a detailed scale. The survey produced four ( 4 ) mapping units(site A : upper and lower slope, site B: upper and lower slope) and each was represented by a pedon. The pedons were described appropriately. Samples were collected from each pedon and taken to the laboratory for analysis using standard procedure. The results revealed that the entire study area had a sandy top soil ( 0-20cm ) with sand fraction of particle size ranging from 660 gkg1 to 960 gkg1 , silt ranged from 10 gkg1 to 44 gkg1 and clay had values ranging from 30 gkg1 to 320 gkg1 . The nutrient reserve was equally low as expressed by the low potassium values ( K < 0.2 cmolkg ) which ranged from 0.01cmolkg1 to 0.29 cmolkg1 : and low Organic Carbon values ( 1.30gkg1 to 23.13gkg1 ) . The mean values for : sand fraction in the soils ranged within 787gkg-¹ to 886 gkg1 for silt 15 gkg-¹ to 26.8gkg1 and clay from 88gkg-¹ to 190gkg. The CV of pH for pedon 1a was 10.5% with a ranging of low variability as well as its sand fraction which had CV value of 6%. In pedon 1b the pH , AI , base saturation and sand fraction were ranked as low variability with CV values of 6.2 , 0.42%, 13.9 % and 11.5% respectively . The pH , ECEC , CEC and sand fraction of pedon 2a under site B were in low variability with CV values of 9.68% , 13.67% and 5.1% respectively.