SOIL QUALITY OF IRRIGABLE LANDS OF IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

This research was carried out in the Tono, Vea, Doba Libga, Bontanga and Golinga irrigation schemes in the Upper East and Northern Regions of Ghana to assess soil quality of the irrigable areas. The irrigable areas of the schemes were divided into three blocks namely; upstream, midstream and downstream for soil sampling. Three (3) composite soil samples each were taken at 0 – 30 cm depth in each stream of each scheme. The findings indicated that the pH of the soils from all the schemes except Libga were within 5.2 – 6.4, whilst the soils of Libga scheme have average pH of 8.8. Electrical conductivity or salinity in the schemes except Libga ranged from 1.2 – 39.3 μS/cm whilst the Libga scheme recorded salinity levels of 317 – 4,106 µS/cm. The mean ESP or sodicity of all the schemes except Libga ranged from 1.0 – 4.8 % with the Libga scheme recording levels of 8.5 – 30 %. Mean sodium values of the Libga scheme averaged 440.7.