Application of the Concept of Minimum Data Sets to Soil Quality Assessment for Crop Production in Southwestern Nigeria

Active carbon, potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), pH, CEC, effective soil depth, aggregate stability and bulk density qualified as MDS for soil quality assessment of tree crops while active carbon, PMN, pH, CEC, aggregate stability, available phosphorus and bulk density qualified for arable crops. Under tree crops, soil quality indices with 12 indicators and MDS ranged from 63– 87% and 61–86%; and 60–72% and 61–71% under arable crops. Relationship between indices of the two sets of indicators shows high positive correlation (r = 0.83 and 0.74 for tree and arable crops respectively).

With the concept of MDS in place, soil quality assessment will be less costly and therefore more affordable for farmers.