Soil Survey and Land Suitability Classification for Crop Production in Bauchi State

This study conducts a systematic soil survey and develops a land suitability classification for major crop production in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria. Rational crop production planning requires knowledge of soil spatial variability and the suitability of different land units for specific crops. Bauchi State's diverse geology and geomorphology create significant soil variability that is inadequately captured in existing national soil databases. This study surveys soils in a representative transect covering 18,000 hectares across Bauchi, Misau, and Kirfi local government areas. Profile pits are excavated at regular intervals and supplemented by augering. Soil classification follows the FAO-UNESCO World Reference Base system. Chemical and physical analyses include texture, pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, cation exchange capacity, and available water capacity. Land suitability classification follows FAO guidelines for sorghum, millet, groundnut, and cotton. GIS mapping integrates field and laboratory data. Findings reveal six dominant soil mapping units across the survey area, ranging from highly productive Haplic Luvisols in lowland positions to degraded Lixisols and Leptosols on steep upper slope positions. Land suitability analysis shows 34 percent of surveyed land is highly suitable for sorghum and millet production, while 28 percent requires soil amendment for groundnut production due to moderate phosphorus limitations. Cotton suitability is limited to well-drained Luvisol units representing 18 percent of the area. The study recommends the suitability maps as planning tools for state agricultural land use policy and extension service targeting.

Keywords: soil survey, land suitability, Bauchi State, crop production planning, soil classification.