Irrigation suitability of Onwu river flood plain soils in Cross River State, Nigeria

Irrigation suitability of Onwu River flood plain soils was studied at Akraba-Itekpa in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was undertaken in order to determine the suitability of the flood plain to paddy-rice production under surface irrigation. Two soil mapping units, AK I and AK II, were identified. The first one covered about 112 hectares and the other 370 hectares. These areas were gently undulating to nearly level in the flood plain. A total of five representative soil profile pits were dug in the study area with two in AK I and three in AK II soil units. Infiltration measurements were carried out 10 m away from each profit pit. The equilibrium infiltration rate of 5.0 and 3.0 cm h(-1) was obtained from the surface soils of AK I soil unit with a mean value of 4.0 +/- 0.99 cm h(-1). For the AK II soil unit, the rates were 2, 4.2 and 3.0 cm h(-1) with a mean value of 3.1 +/- 3.2 cm h(-1). The soils were suitable for paddy rice cultivation under surface irrigation.