Several attempts have been made to relate soil properties to slope position for many landscapes essentially due to the realization of the role toposequence plays in influencing runoff, soil erosion and hence soil formation. However, information remains fragmentary on the relationship between toposequence and changes in the properties of soils of Ekiti State. In this study, selected physical, hydraulic and chemical properties of the soils along a toposequence in Ado Ekiti were evaluated. Textural class of the soils changed from loamy sand at the upper slope to sandy loam at the middle down to lower slope with sand content varying from 81.3, 73.4 to 72.3% respectively. Bulk density was highest at the upper slope with 1.72g/cm3 and lowest (1.61g/cm3) at lower slope. Total porosity and particle density of the soils followed similar trend as they decreased down the slope. However, hydraulic properties followed a different pattern. For instance, while water content values increased down the slope as follows: 9.6, 10.5, and 13.5%; Ksat ranged from 45, 30 to 20 cm/hr down the slope. In addition, infiltration rates also varied from 90, 70 to 55 cm/hr down the slope. The soils at the different slope sections were slightly acidic with pH of between 5.6 and 5.8 and they had low soil organic carbon (SOC)) content, generally below 2%; the highest being 1.9%. These findings demonstrated that soils deposited at the upper slope were more fertile and less prone to water erosion because of higher OM and greater permeability. Bush fallowing and appropriate tillage practices could assist in achieving sustainable crop production on these soils.
