Assessment of Soil Phosphorus Forms on Oil Palm Plantation in Songhai, Amukpe Delta State, Nigeria

Soil fertility decline due to mismanagement of plant nutrients further exacerbates the arduous task of satisfying the increasing food demands by the growing population. Primary nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are required in very large quantities by most crops. The three primary nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), constitute the basic components of most inorganic NPK fertilizers, but whereas nitrogen and potassium are often readily available to plants, P is frequently not so readily available to plants. Even though, phosphorus happens to be one of the most important nutrients to growing crops, it is however, one of the limiting plant nutrients in most Sub-Saharan African (SSA) soil. Hence, this study was carried out to investigate the assessment of soil phosphorus forms and distribution and its impact on oil palm plantation of the Songhai Delta Amukpe farm project in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. A total of five (5) profile pit was dugged. Soil samples were collected from each horizons with the aid of a hand trowel. The data obtained were analyzed by Genstat computer package. The difference between the means were separated using Duncan multiple range test at 5 % level of probability. From the study, results shows that the phosphorus contents were significantly different. According to the mean values recorded, phosphorus was below critical level for optimum yield of Oil palm. It also shows that the various forms of P were higher than the active forms indicating high fixation and low availability of P in Songhai Oil Palm plantation, Amukpe, Delta state.