Survey of Soil Fertility Status of Smallholder Farmers’ Fields in Borno State

Continuous cultivation without adequate nutrient replenishment has depleted soil fertility in the cropping systems of North East Nigeria, and baseline soil fertility surveys are necessary for designing targeted soil management recommendations for smallholder farmers in Borno State. This study surveyed the soil chemical and physical fertility status of smallholder farm fields in Konduga, Bama, and Jere Local Government Areas, Borno State, North East Nigeria. A total of 90 composite soil samples (30 per LGA) were collected from 0 to 20 cm depth using a systematic random sampling procedure from fields under active cultivation. Standard laboratory analyses determined soil pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg), and soil texture. Results showed that soil pH ranged from 5.6 to 7.4 across surveyed fields, with 53.3 percent of samples falling below the optimal range of 6.0 to 7.0 for most crops. Organic carbon was critically low (below 1.0 percent) in 78.9 percent of samples. Available phosphorus was below the critical level (10 mg kg-1) in 66.7 percent of fields. Total nitrogen was deficient in 71.1 percent of samples. Sandy loam texture dominated, contributing to low moisture and nutrient retention. The study concludes that widespread multi-nutrient deficiency characterises smallholder fields in the study area. Recommendations include lime application for pH correction, organic matter recycling, and balanced mineral fertiliser application guided by extension-facilitated soil testing services in Borno State.

Keywords: soil fertility, smallholder farming, Borno State, nutrient deficiency, soil survey