Assessment of Soil Fertility Status of Smallholder Farms in Enugu State, South East Nigeria

This study assesses the soil fertility status of smallholder farms in selected local government areas of Enugu State, located in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. Declining soil fertility is a primary constraint on smallholder crop productivity across the South East zone, driven by continuous cultivation without adequate nutrient replenishment, accelerated erosion, and the loss of organic matter. Using a descriptive survey design, composite soil samples were collected from 0 to 20 cm Soil Scienceh across 40 smallholder farms in three local government areas. Samples were analysed in the laboratory for soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity, and texture using standard methods. Farmer management practices were documented through structured questionnaires administered to 40 farm operators. Findings revealed that the majority of sampled soils were strongly to moderately acid (pH 4.8 to 5.6), with low organic carbon content below 1.0 percent, deficient available phosphorus, and low exchangeable potassium in over 72 percent of farms. Continuous cropping without lime or organic matter additions was the dominant management pattern. Nitrogen deficiency was found to be universal across all sampled profiles. The study recommends liming to correct soil acidity, combined application of inorganic fertilisers and farmyard manure, and the promotion of green manure crops as low-cost fertility improvement options for Enugu State smallholder farmers. Keywords: soil fertility, smallholder farms, Enugu State, soil pH, nutrient deficiency.