Soil Fertility Analysis in Two Oil Palm Plantation Towns in Assin North District of the Central Region of Ghana

Macronutrients, micronutrients, pH and salinity were determined in soil samples from two palm plantation towns in Assin North District in the Central Region of Ghana. Neutron Activation method was used for the elemental analysis. The pHs were within the acidic range. The top soil 0-5cm had the highest pH followed by soil at the depth of 5-30cm and soil at the depth of 30-40cm that is the pH decreased with depth and were higher than the preferred pH. The salinity increased with depth. For the soil samples from Assin Akonfudi iron concentration was the highest and molybdenum was the least in the soil. Manganese and Mg concentrations in soil decreased as the depth in soil increased. Potassium, Ca, Zn and Cu concentrations in soil rather increased as the depth in soil increased. Iron and Na concentrations in soil were highest at 5-30cm depth and lowest at 0-5cm depth and Cl concentration in soil was highest at 30-40cm and lowest at 5-30cm depth. Cobalt concentration in soil was highest at 0-5cm and 30-40cm which have the same concentration and lowest at 5-30cm and Mo concentration in soil was highest at 0-5cm and lowest at both 5-30cm and 30-40cm of which were below detection limit. For the soil samples from Assin Bereku iron concentration again was the highest and again Mo was the least in the soil. Manganese and Mg concentrations decreased as the depth in soil increased. Potassium, Ca, Fe, Na, Zn and Cu concentrations rather increased as the depth in soil increased. Chlorine concentration in soil was highest at 5-30cm and lowest at 30-40cm depth and Co concentration in soil was highest at 30-40cm depth and lowest at 5-30cm