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Despite its extensive occurrence, over the years, the industrial use of limestone in Cross River State has masked the agricultural potentials of the soils overlying it and so has not been fairly studied. The presence of weatherable minerals in soils is an important index of the stage of weathering and soil development from which the fertility status of the soil can be assessed. The present study seeks to evaluate the fertility implication of some clay minerals in soils developed from limestone geologic formations. Digital elevation models of the study areas were generated. One profile pit was sited in the highest elevation range of Ogoja (OG1) and two profile pits sited in the highest and mid-elevation ranges of each of Yakurr (YK1 and YK2) and Akamkpa (AK1 and AK2). Clay was extracted from the air-dry soil samples obtained from the B and C horizons and subjected to analysis using X-ray diffractometer. The presence of either cambic or argillic subsurface horizons in the entire soils as well as the dominance of kaolinite and quartz over illite, muscovite, dolomite, montmorillonite, witherite and palygorskite qualify the soils in the intermediate to ultimate stage of weathering. Also, the distribution of minerals was such that soils in YK1 and AK1 were the most weathered and least fertile, while those in OG1 and AK2 were the least weathered and most fertile. Furthermore, the vertical variation of clay mineral species is linked to the sedimentary landscape, while differences in the mineral makeup between limestone formations suggest differences that exist between the various formations, leaving soils in the Ogoja area as more fertile due to the abundance of montmorillonite in the soils. Among the minerals, quartz and palygorskite correlated with silt and cation exchange capacity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of organomineral fertilizer on the growth and mineral composition of Moringa oleifera organs. The experiment included three doses of cow dung, three doses of mineral fertilizers and two doses combining mineral fertilizers and cow dung. Soil samples and samples of M. oleifera organs were analyzed. Results revealed the contribution of fertilizer to improve soil chemical properties, except pH. The best vegetative development was obtained with the dose of 125 kg of mineral fertilizers per hectare. However, the mineral composition of Moringa oleifera has been improved by the application of organic matter compared to mineral fertilizers. In the second year of harvest, the results showed that the young leaves of Moringa are rich in moisture and ash, whereas mature leaf, have high levels of lipid, cellulose and proteins compared to young leaves. In the context of poor nutrition, Moringa oleifera L. is a sustainable solution when grown organically.