EVALUATION OF SOIL FERTILITY STATUS FOR PEARL MILLET (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br,) PRODUCTION OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH FARM, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, MONGUNO

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the soil fertility status of teaching and research farm of Federal Polytechnic Monguno (12°40'N, 13°36'E, 354m above sea level), for Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br,) Production. A systematic grid sampling approach was used to collect composite soil samples from the study site during the 2025 dry season. Samples were analyzed at the Soil Chemistry Laboratory of the Department of Soil Sciences, University of Maiduguri for physico-chemical properties using standard laboratory procedures. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics using STATISTIX 10.0 analytical software. Relationships between soil properties were determined using Pearson correlation analysis. Fertility parameters were interpreted according to critical levels for millet production in semi-arid tropical regions. Results shows that the soil was sandy loam, with neutral pH (6.67) and non-saline (EC = 0.22). Low concentration of available phosphorus (6.398) and total nitrogen (1.102 g/kg) were observed. Organic carbon (3.56 g/kg) likewise the organic matter (6.236 g/kg) were extremely low. The C:N ratio (3.244) and sodium ion concentration (0.094 cmol⁽⁺⁾/kg Soil) were low, while calcium was moderate. Potassium was low (0.234 cmol⁽⁺⁾/kg Soil) while magnesium was very high. The soil had a moderate CEC and a very high PBS. Strong correlations exist between some essential nutrients and pH, EC, Na, Base saturation and percentage clay fractions. Nitrogen in the study area was observed to be inversely related with silt (r = -0.915). Phosphorus availability was largely determined by clay (r = 0.995), pH (r = 0.896), and EC (r = 0.999). A very strong negative correlation (r = -0.964) was observed between sand fraction and available P. The coefficient of variation (CV) values indicated moderate variability for most parameters. In conclusion, that the soil has the potential to support millet production, though, the evaluation showed that most of the essential nutrients needed for adequate millet production are low in concentration. It is therefore, recommended that, successful millet production at the study location will require integrated soil fertility management strategies that addresses multiple deficiencies while considering the soil's moderate nutrient retention capacity.