AGRICULTURAL GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION IN RESOLVING LAND AND OPTIMUM EXPLOITATION CHALLENGES AT IBBU LAPAI FARM SITE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Geophysical techniques have become very valuable and indispensable tool in addressing the agricultural activities challenges ranging from; soil quality determination, monitoring and appropriate usage challenges, etc. Agricultural geophysical investigations are therefore, generally focused on delineating geologic features within the soil profile at depth range within the crop root zone (0 to 2 m depth) over very large farm size. Consequently, Geophysical characterization using high resolution Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) with Schulumberger electrode array was conducted at a portion of the IBBUL farm site to delineate the subterranean geologic features of interest to agricultural output yields. The results revealed the lithological units in the study area. The analysis of VES points 1 and 3 revealed lithological units of highest moisture contents with resistivity variation of (19.00 to 79.80) Ώm. Three distinct geo-electric layers were delineated in the study area; (first layer) shallow subsurface with the highest moisture contents, (second layer) a good aquifer unit and (third layer) weathered Basement complex. The weathered layer (second layer) has the highest resistivity range of between (22.87 and 304.00) Ώm. It exhibited some observed presence of fractured parts acting as high yield point for the good groundwater resource within the farm site. From the delineated subsurface properties, this farm land may have high agricultural yields at VES points 1 and 3, while VES points 4 with higher resistive (31.31 and 156.00) Ώm geologic features may be best for locating heavy agricultural infrastructures. Venturing into Precision and dry season farming are recommended for the IBBUL University at the investigated portion of the farm site considering the soil quality and the viable groundwater potentials.