Mary Idigbeyose

This study was carried out at Iguzama community to assess the capability for arablecropproduction. The methodology involved rigid grid soil identification and mapping at adetailedscale. The survey produced four ( 4 ) mapping units(site A : upper and lower slope, siteB: upperand lower slope) and each was represented by a pedon. The pedons were described appropriately.Samples were collected from each pedon and taken to the laboratory for analysis usingstandardprocedure. The results revealed that the entire study area had a sandy top soil ( 0-20cm) withsand fraction of particle size ranging from 660 gkg1 to 960 gkg1 , silt ranged from10gkg1to44 gkg1 and clay had values ranging from 30 gkg1 to 320 gkg1 . The nutrient reservewasequally low as expressed by the low potassium values ( K < 0.2 cmolkg ) which rangedfrom0.01cmolkg1 to 0.29 cmolkg1 : and low Organic Carbon values ( 1.30gkg1 to 23.13gkg1).The mean values for : sand fraction in the soils ranged within 787gkg- ¹ to 886 gkg-1 for silt 15gkg- ¹ to 26.8gkg-1 and clay from 88gkg- ¹ to 190gkg. The CV of pH for pedon 1a was 10.5%with a ranging of low variability as well as its sand fraction which had CVvalue of 6%. Inpedon1b the pH , AI , base saturation and sand fraction were ranked as low variability withCVvaluesof 6.2 , 0.42%, 13.9 % and 11.5% respectively . The pH , ECEC , CEC and sandfractionofpedon 2a under site B were in low variability with CV values of 9.68%, 13.67%and5.1%respectively. The silt fraction, base saturation and pH of pedon 2b had lowvariabilitywithCVof8.37%, 12.19 % and 4.4% . Based on morphological characteristics and laboratoryresults, thepedons were evaluated for their capability to support arable crop production and that 1.65haor41.25 % occupied by pedon 1a (lower slope), 2.64ha or 66% occupied by pedon 1b (upper slope),6.4ha or 53.33% occupied by pedon 2a (lower slope) and 5.69ha or 47.416%occupiedby2b(upper slope) fell on aggregate class III based on the law of minimum. Therefore, theyaresuitable for cropping and intensive grazing. Soil conservation practices and sound managementare needed to overcome the moderate limitations to cropping use