Theory question 107
Nigeria: Physical Setting(a) On an outline map of Nigeria, show the main soil zones
(b) Name any one crop that is grown in each of the zones shown on your map
(c) Describe the soil characteristics that have favoured the cultivation of the type of crops in each zone.
Show the model answer
(a) Map with key, e.g. coastal/swamp and hydromorphic soils (Niger Delta and coast); forest (ferrallitic) soils of the south; ferruginous tropical soils of the savanna (middle belt and north); sandy/arid brown soils of the far north; alluvial/fadama soils along major rivers
(b) e.g. swamp soils – rice; forest soils – cocoa/oil palm/yam; ferruginous soils – yam, sorghum, cotton; sandy northern soils – groundnut, millet; fadama alluvium – rice, onions, wheat
(c) Forest soils: deep, rich in humus, well drained loams – good for tree crops and yams; ferruginous soils: moderately fertile, well drained, sandy loam – grains, cotton, yam; sandy soils: light, loose, well drained – groundnuts develop pods easily, millet; hydromorphic/alluvial: waterlogged, fertile silt – rice
Link a soil property to each crop.