Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences 4(12): 1038-1044, 2012 ISSN: 2041-0492 © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2012 Submitted: August 04, 2012 Accepted: October 02, 2012 Published: December 20, 2012 Corresponding Author: G.K. Adamu, Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, Tel.: +2348034384507, +2347057120594, +2348023918230 1038 Determination of the Influence of Texture and Organic Matter on Soil Water Holding Capacity in and Around Tomas Irrigation Scheme, Dambatta Local Government Kano State G.K. Adamu and A.K. Aliyu Department of Geography, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria Abstract: This research was conducted in Dambatta local government with aim of determining the influence of texture and organic matter content on soil water holding capacity. Three sites were chosen based on land uses- cultivated area (Jama’a village), uncultivated site (shantake) and Tomas irrigation site. Fifteen composite samples were randomly collected from the top (0-15 cm) in the sites. The samples were analyzed for some soil parameters such as particle size distribution, organic carbon and water holding capacity using standard routine laboratory tests. In addition, statistical graphs and tables were employed to analyze the data. Mean values of soil organic carbon was computed to compare the results with the previous findings. The mean soil organic carbon of shantake, Tomas and Jama’a fields were found to be 2.57, 1.37 and 1.27%, respectively. The textures of the soil samples were found to be Sand and Loamy sand. The soil water holding capacity ranged from 5 to 25%. The results showed that soil organic matter was found to be higher in uncultivated fields than in irrigation fields and continuous cultivation fields. It was concluded that soil organic matter and texture had influence on water holding capacity and the effect was more pronounced when fine texture was coupled with appreciable amount of soil organic matter. It was recommended that higher levels of organic matter should be incorporated to the soils with aim of improving soil water holding capacity and further research should be done in order to fully understand the moisture characteristics of different soil samples in the study area and sudano-sahelian zone at large. Keywords: Soil organic matter, soil texture, soil water holding capacity INTRODUCTION Soil has been called “the skin of the earth” it is dynamic natural body capable of supporting vegetative cover. It contains chemical solution, gases, organic refuse, flora and fauna (Gabler et al., 2009). According to Yusuf (2010) soil is the loose material that covers the land surfaces of the earth and supports the growth of plants. The most widely accepted scientific definition of soil is that by Waugh (1995) who stated that: “Soil is the natural body of animal, mineral and organic constituents differentiated into horizons of variable depth, which differ from the material below in morphology, physical make up, chemical properties and composition and biological characteristics” Soil responds to climatic condition (especially temperature and moisture), to the land surface configuration, to vegetative cover and composition and to animal activity. Being dynamic entity, soil possesses physical, chemical and biological properties. Physical properties such as available water holding capacity is controlled by texture of the soil, amount of organic matter content and structure of the soil. Available water holding capacity can be defined as the amount of water (moisture) the soil can hold for the use of plants root for certain period of time (Yusuf, 2010). An important indicator of soil physical fertility is the capacity to store and supply water and air for plant growth. The water holding capacity is a very important agronomic characteristic. Soils that hold generous amounts of water are less subject to leaching losses of nutrients. This is true because soil with a limited water holding capacity (i.e., sandy loam) reaches the saturation point sooner than a soil with higher water holding capacity (i.e., clay loam). Soil texture refers to the sizes (or distribution of sizes) that make up the soil. In other words the proportion of particle sizes determines a soil’s texture (Gabler et al., 2009). According to Waugh (1995) soil texture refers to the degree of coarseness or fineness of mineral matter in the soil. The physical and chemical weathering of rocks and animals results in a wide range in size of particles from stone, to gravel, to sand, to silt and to very small clay particles. The particle size distribution determines the degree of coarseness or fineness of the soil or the soil texture. Specifically texture is relative proportion of sand, silt and clay in a