Spatial drivers of soil quality variability and implications for regional land management in South-South Nigeria

Samuel Ogba Echem; Moses Obenade; Jacob Parkins Agwu

doi:10.31648/aspal.12310

Published: 2026-09-28

Vol. 25 No. 3 (2026)

Spatial drivers of soil quality variability and implications for regional land management in South-South Nigeria

Samuel Ogba Echem , Moses Obenade , Jacob Parkins Agwu

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.12310

Abstract

Motives: Soil quality is a fundamental but often under-integrated component of regional land-use planning and sustainable land management in rapidly developing tropical environments. This study examines the spatial drivers of soil quality variability across selected states in the South-South region of Nigeria using multivariate and regression modelling techniques. Understanding the dominant drivers of soil quality variability is therefore essential for developing effective land-use management strategies in the region. Identifying how soil properties vary spatially and which factors control this variability can provide a scientific basis for land suitability assessment, conservation prioritization, and sustainable land-use planning.
Aim: The study aims to determine the physicochemical and textural characteristics of soils in the South-South region; evaluate interrelationships among soil quality parameters using correlation analysis; identify dominant soil quality drivers through principal component analysis; quantify the influence of selected soil properties on key soil quality indicators using multiple regression models; and to explain regional soil quality variability in relation to acidity dynamics, nutrient retention capacity, and textural composition. This study thus identifies the leading drivers controlling soil quality variability across the South-South region of Nigeria using multivariate statistical approaches including correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and regression modelling. By linking soil quality indicators with broader land management implications, the study contributes to integrating environmental assessment with spatial planning and land administration frameworks in humid tropical environments.
Results: The results indicate that soil quality variability in the South-South zone is controlled by four key interacting factors: organic matter and nitrogen dynamics, base-cation-controlled nutrient retention capacity, soil acidity regulation, and texture-mediated physical constraints. These drivers operate under humid tropical conditions characterized by intense rainfall and advanced weathering. Beyond their environmental significance, these drivers have direct relevance for regional land administration, spatial planning, and sustainable land-use management, particularly in relation to agricultural zoning, land suitability assessment, and land conservation policy. The study demonstrates how soil quality
modelling can support evidence-based spatial decision-making and regional development strategies
in humid tropical environments. The modelling framework adopted in this study demonstrates
how soil quality data can be translated into spatial decision-support information for land managers
and policy makers. Integrating such information into geographic information systems and land
administration platforms could enhance evidence-based land management and promote sustainable
land-use planning in humid tropical regions. Future studies should incorporate larger spatial datasets
and more detailed sampling designs in order to improve the robustness of soil quality modelling and
to better capture spatial variability across the region.

Keywords:

modeling, soil quality, drivers, variability, environment, South-South region

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Echem, S. O., Obenade, M., & Agwu , J. P. (2026). Spatial drivers of soil quality variability and implications for regional land management in South-South Nigeria. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum, 25(3), 491–505. https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.12310

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Samuel Ogba Echem

Affiliation:

Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria

Moses Obenade

moses.obenade72@gmail.com

Affiliation:

Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria

Jacob Parkins Agwu

Affiliation:

Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria