EFFECT OF WATER ACIDITY ON THE LEACHING OF FERTILIZER COMPONENTS IN UMUAHIA AGRICULTURAL SOILS

The South-Eastern Nigeria has heavy annual rainfall and at riskof leaching by acid rain hence there is a strong need to study the acidity of water from this zone as determine it’s effect on fertilizer components applied soil pH affect nutrient retention. was therefore conducted application agricultural soils in Umuahia one cities South-East. Agricultural collected Umudike designated Soil(UAS).The characterized texture, gravel, pH, organic matter carbon, exchangeable cations, available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium percentage nitrogen using their various methods analysis. characterization followed tube experiments whereby samples were leached with carbonated different levels ranging 4 6.5 also rainwater 6.8 ten tubes five without which served control experiment. leachates analysed for concentrations sodium,potassium,calcium other ions . results textural classification showed sandy-clay, that physicochemical analysis carbon 3.82 ± 0.13 2.21±0.00 % respectively, 0.26 0.11 %. experiment sodium 0.19 me/100g, 1.10 0.28± 1.02 0.29 ±0.11 me/100g 0.38 ±0.12 4, 5, 6, respectively while potassium 3.76 ±0.02 3.61 0.02 3.54 6 respectively. 0.09 0.01 both Na+ K+ levels. Soils fertilizers more than fertilizers. From results, it could be inferred differed influence water. Therefore, should based level or rain.