SOIL CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION IMPACT OF AWE – AKINMORIN, OYO TOWN, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Soil characterization and classification are fundamental aspects of soil science that provide a basis for understanding soil properties, their formation, and their sustainable use in agriculture and environmental management. This study aims to systematically analyze and categorize soil of Awe-Akinmorin based on their physico -chemical properties andassess theirsuitability for various agricultural, environmental, and engineering applications. The research uses sieve analysisto analyzing key physical soil properties, such as texture, structure, and bulk density, to determine their variability and influence on soil functionality. Additionally, the study adopts internationally recognized soil classification systems to categorize the soils, providing a standardized framework for understanding their suitability for various applications. This work concluded that while these soils may offer good drainage and load-bearing potential, their performance in construction applications could be compromised unless stabilized or blended with finer materials. The lack of fines such as sand and silt in many of the soil samples further limits their cohesion and compaction characteristics, suggesting that stabilization or amendment with finer materials may be necessary to improve their stability and suitability for construction purposes.