GIS-based production of digital soil map for Nigeria

Type Journal Article - Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management
Title GIS-based production of digital soil map for Nigeria
Author(s)
Volume 6
Issue 5
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 498-506
URL http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejesm/article/download/93441/82867
Abstract
Soil, a valuable natural resource can be said to play a part across the range of human existence and
its knowledge is fundamental to its utilization and management. Soil maps provide a means of
gaining understanding about the soil, but limitations in accuracy, revision and mode of presentation–
relating to graphics or digits–of such maps seem to stimulate lack of soil data in many places.
However, much of the human activity has been treated with significant uncertainties, and many
environmental processes relating to soil are poorly understood. Digital soil mapping seems to hold a
strong prospect for addressing these challenges, with an interesting flexibility for utilizing many
recent technologies. The present study proposes a digital soil map for Nigeria, and other thematic
maps based on soil properties, using geographic information system (GIS) technology. Existing
graphical soil maps are the primary data sources. Although, the study is specific to making improved
soil data available for the study area, the results tend to support the assumption that significant
prospects are held by digital soil mapping in enhancing the knowledge of soil and its provision for a
range of human activities.

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