Abstract
This study was conducted in Babbe district to identify the different types of soils in Babbe district
of Khana Local Government area in Rivers State, Nigeria and the suitability for the cultivation of
rice. A semi detailed soil survey procedure was carried out for the purpose of delineation,
identification and classification of the different types of soils in the study area and expressed in a
soil map, while various land suitability guideline were used to determine the suitability of soils for
the cultivation of rice and expressed in relevant map. The entire land area of Babbe – Khana Local
government Area covering 9,380 hectares was geo-referenced and digitized in an Arch map
environment to form a shape file of the study area. The entire land of Babbe was identified and
delineated into three mapping units based on vegetation, soil types, drainage condition, soil
textures and structures and especially topography.Based on toposequences, the profiles were dug
in Kaa, Gwara, and Eeken villages identified as Babbe pedon1, Babbe pedon 2, and Babbe pedon
3 designated as (BP1, BP2 and BP3). One soil profile pit was dug in each representative soil
mapping unit based on topsequences. Each of the soil profile was described using appropriate methods.
Each soil identified was then evaluated for the chosen crops using appropriate guidelines. Results
revealed that morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of the soils shows that Babbe
soils in Khana Local Government Area, consist of two major soil types/orders - Entisol/Arenosol
and Inceptisol/Cambisol. In terms of suitability, Upland Rice was currently not (N) suitable in
pedons 1, 2 and 3 (9,380 hectares). with limitations in soil fertility. Therefore, the soils of Babbe
district of Khana Local Government Area are largely Entisols/Arenosols, Inceptisols/Cambisols
and does not favour the cultivation of Upland Rice to some extent.