Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa

The sustainable use of the soil resource requires extensive knowledge about its genesis, morphology, and properties. Consequently, soil data are basis for improved land use management and soil conservation. The present study illustrates morphology and physical, chemical and mineralogical properties...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Junge, B., Skowronek, A.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2007
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91972
_version_ 1855543117992689664
author Junge, B.
Skowronek, A.
author_browse Junge, B.
Skowronek, A.
author_facet Junge, B.
Skowronek, A.
author_sort Junge, B.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The sustainable use of the soil resource requires extensive knowledge about its genesis, morphology, and properties. Consequently, soil data are basis for improved land use management and soil conservation. The present study illustrates morphology and physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of the soils developed in the pediplain of Central Benin. The pediments are characterized by different substrate layers, whereas the material of valleys and the surroundings of inselbergs are of colluvial origin. Termites also play an important role in tropical soils by influencing soil properties. Movement of clay and sesquioxides are typical pedogenetic processes, resulting in the formation of horizons enriched with clay or of ferricrete. The soils of the study site are classified as Sols ferrugineux tropicaux lessivés, Sols hydromorphes, Sols minéraux bruts, and Sols bruns, according to the French Classification des Sols, as Alfisols, Inceptisols, or Entisols according to the U.S.D.A. Soil Taxonomy, or as Acrisols, Plinthosols, Gleysols, Fluvisols, Leptsols, and Cambisols according to the classification systems of the FAO-UNESCO legend and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. The assessment of soil shows that the fertility of the pediment soils is generally low due to the low amount of organic matter, nutrients and poor water holding capacity of the sandy topsoil. The loamy soils surrounding the inselberg as well as the areas influenced by termites are more fertile because of a higher amount of nutrients and better water holding capacity.
format Journal Article
id CGSpace91972
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2007
publishDateRange 2007
publishDateSort 2007
publisher Elsevier
publisherStr Elsevier
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace919722023-12-08T19:36:04Z Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa Junge, B. Skowronek, A. soil soil formation soil classification assessment tropical soils The sustainable use of the soil resource requires extensive knowledge about its genesis, morphology, and properties. Consequently, soil data are basis for improved land use management and soil conservation. The present study illustrates morphology and physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of the soils developed in the pediplain of Central Benin. The pediments are characterized by different substrate layers, whereas the material of valleys and the surroundings of inselbergs are of colluvial origin. Termites also play an important role in tropical soils by influencing soil properties. Movement of clay and sesquioxides are typical pedogenetic processes, resulting in the formation of horizons enriched with clay or of ferricrete. The soils of the study site are classified as Sols ferrugineux tropicaux lessivés, Sols hydromorphes, Sols minéraux bruts, and Sols bruns, according to the French Classification des Sols, as Alfisols, Inceptisols, or Entisols according to the U.S.D.A. Soil Taxonomy, or as Acrisols, Plinthosols, Gleysols, Fluvisols, Leptsols, and Cambisols according to the classification systems of the FAO-UNESCO legend and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. The assessment of soil shows that the fertility of the pediment soils is generally low due to the low amount of organic matter, nutrients and poor water holding capacity of the sandy topsoil. The loamy soils surrounding the inselberg as well as the areas influenced by termites are more fertile because of a higher amount of nutrients and better water holding capacity. 2007-05 2018-03-29T12:45:00Z 2018-03-29T12:45:00Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91972 en Limited Access Elsevier Junge, B., & Skowronek, A. (2007). Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa. Geoderma, 139(3), 357-370.
spellingShingle soil
soil formation
soil classification
assessment
tropical soils
Junge, B.
Skowronek, A.
Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa
title Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa
title_full Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa
title_fullStr Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa
title_full_unstemmed Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa
title_short Genesis, properties, classification and assessment of soils in Central Benin, West Africa
title_sort genesis properties classification and assessment of soils in central benin west africa
topic soil
soil formation
soil classification
assessment
tropical soils
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91972
work_keys_str_mv AT jungeb genesispropertiesclassificationandassessmentofsoilsincentralbeninwestafrica
AT skowroneka genesispropertiesclassificationandassessmentofsoilsincentralbeninwestafrica