Investigation of the Effects of Soil Physico-chemical and Hydraulic Properties on Citrullus lanatus and Cucumis sativus in Southwestern, Nigeria

In this era of agricultural transformation by the federal government of Nigeria, no opportunity that can assist in achieving food security is ignored. Several crops which were previously underutilized are now being promoted for sustainable utilization. Such crops among others include watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Achieving efficient production and high yield requires adequate knowledge about the soil and climatic conditions that are favourable to these two crops under investigation. This study aimed at investigating the effects of physico-chemical and hydraulic properties of southwestern soils on the crops. Soil sample were randomly taken from different locations on the selected farms where the selected crops are being cultivated. The soil was taken at different depths (0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm) and the sample were taken to the laboratory and to determine their moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, exchangeable cations and texture and the results of the soil test were then subjected to appropriate statistical analyses. The results show that bulk density, moisture content (M.C) at field capacity and permanent wilting point (PWP), and the total available water at different depths of soil for cucumber (C. sativus) and watermelon (C. lanatus) at the selected farm range from 1.22 g/cm3 to 1.6 g/cm3 and 8.83 cm/m and 13.30 cm/m respectively. Also, the result of pH, electrical conductivity and exchangeable cations range from 5.27 to 5.26, 85.85 to 96.20 mS/cm and 0.29 cmol/kg to 0.40 cmol/kg, respectively. The assessments of water management practices adopted by the farmers at the selected farms and the soils on which the selected crops are been cultivated hereby provide information on the suitability of the soils in the area as well as other similar soils in Nigeria for the crops’ cultivation as well as potential amendments