Soil Type

Agusan de Sur is endowed with rich and fertile soil. Because of its soil fertility, varied crops can be grown. Based in the Land Resource Evaluation Project conducted by the Bureau of Soils in 1983, Agusan del Sur’s soil types are characterized from deep to very deep, moderately deep to shallow and shallow to slightly acidic, strongly acidic, moderately acidic and neutral high fertility and low fertility. It has also varied colors dark-brown, brown, dark yellowish brown, very dark grayish brown, and reddish brown. Among soil types are clay, clayey, loam, loamy, silty, sandy, clay, loam, coarse loamy and clayey loamy. The clayey and loamy types are richer in nutrients than most sandy soils. The texture of the soil has a considered effect on many factors which affect plant growth and agriculture management.

Land Area

In 1976, the province’s land area was 8,568 square kilometres, making it the seventh largest province in the country. After claiming the disputed boundary between Davao del Norte, Butuan City and with the creation of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur now has an area of 8966 km².

The municipalities of Loreto, La Paz, Esperanza, and San Luis are the four largest municipalities in land area comprising almost 60 % of the province’s total land area. Santa Josefa and Talacogon, also river towns, have the smallest land area.

Forestland constitutes 76% of the total land area or 6,827.5 km² while the alienable and disposable constitutes about 24% or 2,137.5 km². Present land use, however showed that settlements and commercial areas already occupy some of the forestlands.

Through the years, the province has lost so much of its forest resources because existing industries are extractive in nature.

Geography

Agusan del Sur occupies an accoastal portion of Northeastern Mindanao, bounded on the North by Agusan del Norte, on the South by Compostela Valley, on the West by /misamis Oriental and Bukidnon and on the East by Surigao del Sur. The province is landlocked and can be reached only by land transportation trough the Davao-Butuan National Highway. Three minor roads also provide access for travelers coming from Tandag, Lianga, Barobo, and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur, and one road connects the southwestern part of the province with Asuncion, Compostela Valley province. All four roads, however intersect the National Highway at the different points. Although Agusan River is a potential route towards the province, no existing ferry facilities regularly operate from Butuan City or ComVal Province.

Climate

The province is geographically situated below the typhoon belt but is usually affected by depressions forming in the typhoon regions of Visayas and the province of Surigao del Norte. The climate map of the Philippines based on the modified coronas classification shows that the province falls under Type II.

Type II climate has no dry season with very pronounced wet season of heavy precipitation. Maximum rainfall generally occurs from December to January although there is no single dry month. Its average monthly rainfall is 355 mm. and average temperature is 27.15 degree Celsius. Areas characterized by this climate type are generally along or very near the eastern coast thus are open to the northeast monsoon.

Topography and Vegetation

Agusan del Sur is an elongated basin formation with mountain ranges in the eastern and western sides forming a valley, which occupies the center longitudinal section of the land. The Agusan River which flows from Compostela Valley in the South towards Agusan del Norte in the North runs almost in the middle of the valley and empties into Butuan Bay.

The river has twelve tributaries, namely Wawa, Gibong, and Simulao River in the eastern side: and Ojot, Pusilao, Kasilayan, Libang, Maasam, Agdawan, Cawayan, Umayam, and Ihaoan Rives in the western side. This tributaries are fed by numerous streams and creeks. The southern half of the province from the municipality of Verauela is an area filled with many swamps and lakes, the biggest of which is Talacogon Lake.In 1976, the province’s land area was 8,568 square kilometres, making it the seventh largest province in the country. After claiming the disputed boundary between Davao del Norte, Butuan City and with the creation of Sibagat, Agusan del Sur now has an area of 8966 km².

The municipalities of Loreto, La Paz, Esperanza, and San Luis are the four largest municipalities in land area comprising almost 60 % of the province’s total land area. Santa Josefa and Talacogon, also river towns, have the smallest land area.

Forestland constitutes 76% of the total land area or 6,827.5 km² while the alienable and disposable constitutes about 24% or 2,137.5 km². Present land use, however showed that settlements and commercial areas already occupy some of the forestlands.

Through the years, the province has lost so much of its forest resources because existing industries are extractive in nature.