Volume 11, Issue 24, July - December 2025

Hydraulic conductivity, moisture retention capacity, and chemical characteristics of soils at varying slope positions and depths; implication on crop production

Amanze CT^1♦, Nwosu OC², Ukabiala ME¹, Ibe KO¹, Onyechere AU¹, Okereafor D¹, Eluagu KF³

¹Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria
²Department of Soil Science, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria
³Department of Agricultural Technology, Federal College of Agriculture, Isiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Amanze CT, Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The interaction of slope positions and depths in influencing soil condition for crop production is of great concern. A 2 – factor factorial (slope positions and depths) experiment in Randomized Complete Block design was carried-out to assess hydraulic and chemical characteristics of soils at varying slope positions and depths in relation to crop production. Five slope positions (crest, upper, middle, lower slopes, valley bottom) were identified, and three (3) replicates each of disturbed and undisturbed soils were sampled from each slope position at five depths (0- 20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 cm). Soil samples were processed and analyzed in a laboratory. Results showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) interaction effect of slope positions and depths on hydraulic and chemical characteristics of soils. Soil at valley bottom had greatest rate of water flow across depths, while soil at crest had the least. Water retention capacity of soils increased down the slope across depths with the greatest observed at valley bottom. Available phosphorus and organic carbon content varied considerably among slope positions and depths such that soil at crest had increased available phosphorus at higher depths, while soil at middle slope ranked highest at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths. Soils at lower slope and valley bottom had highest content of organic carbon across depths. All the soils have great potentials for crop production; soils at lower slope and valley bottom can serve for all season vegetable production, while soils at the ascending slopes can sustain arable crop production with effect water and nutrient management strategies.

Keywords: slope positions, depths, crop production, hydraulic conductivity, water retention, chemical characteristics

Discovery Agriculture, 2025, 11, e21da3167

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Published: 14 October 2025