Indigenous Soil Knowledge in the Nigerian savanna

Over the years, farmers have gained experience, skill and knowledge in managing their soils. This ability is largely due to their skill in soil classification; they are able to classify soils with respect to fertility. The classification is usually according to clolour, texture, depth, consistency, internal drainage, water holding ability, slope and sometimes elevation. Colour and consistency are actually the major criterion used. The darker the colour, the more fertile they consider the soil to be. By their classification system, there are generally three (3) types of soils. The sandy to sandy loam with local names (Jigawa, Yashi, Fako, Hanchinkare). The second type is the sandy clay loam to clay loam (Jambago, Dabaaro, Damba, Jambali). These are generally black in colour, have more clay and retain more moisture than the first type. The third type is the gravelly soil (Tsakwa). This is not wide spread as the first two. Both types could be found in both the upland and lowland farms. There is however the dominance of the sandy soils in the upland farms. The sandy soils that are less fertile attract more fertilizer and other fertility management strategies than the more clayey types that are usually more fertile.

Culled from the full paper Indigenous knowledge in soil fertility management in the Nigerian savanna (unpublished) by Iwuafor, E.N.O.

Iwuafor E.N.O is a distinguished Professor of Soil Science at the Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria. An astute researcher, Iwuafor has made remarkable contributions to the understanding of soil –plant relationship. He has over over 60 Journals/Edited proceeding papers/conference papers