Studies on the Genesis of Soils in Jong River Basin in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone

The soil resources of Sierra Leone remain an integral part sustainable agricultural development but knowledge the suitability soils and their management requirements for a variety land uses is still lacking to greater extent. In this view, detailed survey three chiefdoms in Northern was undertaken evaluate genesis interpret soil-landscape properties relationships using toposequence free style approach survey. Three major types, viz, gravelly, gravel-free over gravel soils, formed either directly or indirectly from weathered disintegrated parent materials two geologic origins namely Rokel River Series (comprising sandstone, shale mudstone), Granite Acid Gneiss were identified. gravelly are sandstone sandy shales Series, which upon weathering released iron hydrated oxides that hardened into plinthite drying. acid gneiss containing intermediate igneous metamorphic rocks, produced clay textured whereas derived sedimentary rocks (shales mudstones) action organisms loam soils. mostly located summit back slopes show dark brown yellowish-brown hue moderate chroma, weak structure absence coarse fragments 0 - 40 cm layer, strong high very fine angular blocky having abundance above. these compactness ironstone gravels increases with depth. found on landscape positions, slopes, foot toe slopes. On characterized by texture, sub-angular throughout horizon. content sand grain sizes observed increase black greyish-brown low silty loam, structureless water holding capacity.