Land Management and Utilization

Research Article

Spatial Patterns in Soil Chemistry and Granulometry in the Geomorphic Hazards’ Vulnerable Land and the Need for Sustainable Utilizations

Authors

  • Ikpong Sunday Umo

    Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri 460281, Nigeria

Received: 25 July 2025 | Revised: 7 September 2025 | Accepted: 12 September 2025 | Published Online: 1 October 2025

This study evaluates the patterns in nutrients, grain size, and allied matters’ distributions across geomorphic hazards vulnerable sites in Edo State to strengthen sustainable management efforts and boost land capability for agricultural uses. The specific objectives include determining the patterns of variations and relationships among the soil nutrients and allied parameters across distinct geomorphic hazards vulnerable sites. Soil samples were collected from 12 gullies and 3 flood-vulnerable sites using a soil auger and sediment corer, treated, homogenized, and analyzed in the laboratory for diverse parameters. The laboratory results were further analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The grain size distributions reveal spatial fluxes, but with the unilateral dominance of sand particles. A test of multiple effects of variations in locations on nutrient endowments using Hotelling's Trace model gave a value of 13,868.621 and an F value of 3467.155 that is statistically significant at 0.013. Roy's Largest Root model offered a high value of 1850.015 and a high F value of 740.006, which is statistically significant at 0.000. The tests of variations between-subjects indicate that only phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium possessed high values that are statistically significant at a 0.05 confidence level. This study concluded that soil chemistry and granulometry in the geomorphic hazard vulnerable sites varied based on geographic locations, due to the uniqueness of the intervening human and natural agents. This study recommends the adoption of proactive people-oriented and site-specific engineering and supportive agronomic management strategies for enhanced land capability for sustainable crop production.

Keywords:

Soil Chemistry Nutrients Granulometry Geomorphic Hazards Sustainable Land Use

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