A Comparative Study of the Soils of the Upper Coalmeasure Residua Under Cropped-Grass-Forest Landcontinuum in Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

The soils of Nsukka in eastern Nigeria have generally been derived from the residua (disintegrated rock materials) of either Falsebedded Sandstone or Upper Coal Measure Formations (Asadu, 1990). These geological formations usually give rise to sandy and clayey soils (Akamigbo and Asadu, 1983). The Upper Coal Measures occupy the upper slopes and tops of residual hills in the area but residua from them are transported by colluviation or erosion processes to the lower plains to form soils of similar characteristics with those of the upper slopes. This study was carried out on soils derived from such colluvial materials. The selected sites were contiguous, hence land use was the only differentiating factor among the locations.