Land Suitability and Sustainability Evaluation for Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Production in Tula, Gombe State, Nigeria

Land suitability and sustainability evaluation for crop production is important in the control of land degradation in a tropical environment. The current study aims to evaluate land suitability and sustainability for sorghum production in Tula, Gombe State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from upper, middle, and lower slope positions at 0-30 cm depth and analyzed in the laboratory. The results indicated that the soil texture was loamy sand and bulk density values were <1.6 Mg m-3, while the soil pH was slightly acid to neutral. SOC was rated medium in the upper and lower slopes (>10 g kg-1) and low (<10 g kg-1) in the middle slope. The exchangeable cations were medium to high in the upper and lower slopes, and medium on the middle slope. The suitability/sustainability assessment, cumulative rating index (CRI), was in order of upper > lower > middle slope. Soils in the upper and lower slopes were marginally suitable (S3) and sustainable S2 (CRI= 23 & 22), while those in the middle slope were marginally suitable (S3) and sustainable with high inputs S3 (CRI= 25) for sorghum production. The major agronomic constraints were soil texture, steep slope, low organic carbon, and total nitrogen, particularly in the middle slope, which may have affected sorghum production on a sustainable basis. Management practices such as the application of organic and inorganic fertilizer, technology adoption, effective irrigation, and agroforestry will enhance sorghum sustainability and impede land degradation.