FROM LAND CAPABILITY CLASSIFICATION TO SOIL QUALITY: AN ASSESSMENT

Soil quality assessment and land capability classification are two ways by which the potentials of land for a particular kind of use can be known. Soil quality is a recently developed phenomenon while land evaluation has been in use since at least 1961. Assessment of land capability classification and soil quality for crop production functions were conducted on 12 mapping units. Soil quality was assessed using Multiple Variable Indicator Transform (MVIT) technique. The USDA land capability classification method was used. The results showed that the soils are of medium to high quality for crop production with percentage quality rating of 42- 75%. The capability classification ranged from II- VI indicating good to fairly good value for arable use, with limitations such as low fertility status, high gravel content and shallow effective soil depth. An attempt to find relationship between soil quality and the land capability method showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.71 p < 0.001) between soil quality and land capability indicating that the two approaches are related in the assessment of the land for crop production. Where soil survey and land evaluation data base are lacking or limiting, as is the case in Nigeria, determination of soil quality will strengthen the information base, provide ability to formulate workable solution to land issues and likelihood of adoption of best management practices that ensure sustainable land use. Key words: soil assessment, land capability, soi