FORMS AND PEDOGENIC DISTRIBUTION OF BORON IN A LOESSIAL SOIL OF THE NIGERIAN SAVANNA

Pour soil profiles were dug at the study location which was characteri zed by a surfacial loessial deposit overlying Precamblan Basement Comp lex rocks. The sells were studied for their content and padogenic dist ribution of total, hot water soluble and NaOAc extractable Boron, B. T he relationship between the B contents of the various forms and select ed soil properties were examined by use of correlation and regression analysis. A detailed profile examination of B distribution with depth revealed that the total B tends to increase with depth and accumulate in the upper Bt horizons. The total B values correlated with clay and silt. The hot water soluble B was concentrated in the soil surface and appeared to be related to the organic latter content of the sells. Th e NaOAc extractable B generally recorded lower surface values of B tha n the underlying ApZ or AB horizons. The NaOAc method consistently ext racted higher amounts of B than the hot water extract. The NaOAc extra ctable B values did not correlate significantly witb any of the select ed soil properties whilst significant correlations were observed betwe en hot water extractable B and clay, organic matter alongst other sell propcrties. The soils were found to contain fairly high amounts of to tal B, but however indicated probable deficiencies of available B. The study suggest management practices with specific reference to B ferti lization.