Research Article

Erodibility and Gully Erosion in Relation to Soil Properties in Akwa Ibom State, South Eastern, Nigeria

Ogban P. I.1*, Edoho, I. J2
1 Department of Soil Science, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria
2 Environment Protection Agency (AKSEPA), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
* Corresponding author: peterogban@yahoo.com
Published: Aug, 2011
DOI: 10.67042/njss.2011.0wssitwd
Pages: 69-79
Views: 494
Downloads: 666

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate soil physical and chemical properties in relation to erodibility and gully erosion in Akwa Ibom State, South eastern Nigeria. The locations of study were three gully erosion sites/ types, namely, active and meta-stable (ms-1 and ms-2) gullies. Results of the study showed that coarse sand (CS) particles averaged 863, 710 and 800 gkg-1 in the active and ms-1 and ms-2 respectively, and were several orders of magnitude greater than the fine sand particle. The silt particle averaged 20, 94 and 41g kg-1 , while the clay fraction averaged 66,139 and 86 g kg -1 in the respective locations. Clay ratio (CR) averaged 12.14, 3.59 and 9.18, while silt/clay ratio averaged 0.32, 0.76 and 0.46, in the respective sites. Soil texture was either sandy loam (sl) or loamy sand (ls) generally. Wet aggregate stability (WAS) >2-mm averaged 15.8, 19.8 and 21.6%, while >0.5–mm averaged 34.2, 26.8 and 27.1% in the respective locations. Values of erodibility (K) were generally low, averaging 0.045, 0.065, and 0.053 ha-1 MJ-1mm-1 respectively. Soil organic C (org C) averaged 0.87, 1.22 and 1.72 gk g-1 , respectively. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) respectively averaged 0.04, 0.04 and 0.04, and 1.20, 1.79 and 1.56% in the active and ms-1 and ms-2. Oxides of iron averaged 2181.9, 1851.0 and 2891.4 mg kg -1 (crystalline) and 1047.7, 1923.4 and 1978.2 mg kg-1 (amorphous), respectively. The index of susceptibility, K, correlated positively with silt (si) (r=0.877**) and clay (cl) (r=0.795**), and negatively with CS (r=-0.902**) and CR (r=-0.694* ). The values of the silt and clay fractions indicate low content of inorganic colloids, while the CR indicates high soil dispersion potential irrespective of the moderately high values of soil organic C or organic matter and macro-aggregation. Consequently, the soils could be easily eroded, the low values of K notwithstanding.

Keywords

soil properties erodibility gully erosion acid sands southeastern nigeria

References

  1. Abubakar, S.M., Iguisi, E. O. and Ejaro, I. M. (1998). Effect of continuous cultivation on organic matter and nutrient content of some soils of Nigeria Sudan Savanna. In: I. E. Ukpong (ed) Geography and the Nigerian Environment. Nig. Geo. Assoc. Publ. pp. 247-248.
  2. Bowden, J. W., Nagarajah, S., Barrow, N. J., Posner, A. M. and Quirk, J. P. (1980). Describing the absorption of phosphate, citrate and selenite on a variable-charge mineral surface. Aust. J. Soil Res. 18:49- 60.
  3. Bruce-Okine, E. and Lal, R. (1975). Soil erodibility as determined by the raindrop technique. Soil Sci. 119: 149-157.
  4. Dangler, E. W., El-Swaify, S. A., Ahuja, L. R. and Barnett, A. P. (1976). Erodibility of selected Hawaii soils by rainfall simulation. USDA-ARS, W. 35. 113p.
  5. Deshpande, T. L., Greenland, D. J. and Quick, J. P. (1968). Changes in soil properties associated with the removal of iron and aluminum oxides. J. Soil Sc. 19:108-122.
  6. FMANR (Fed. Min. Agric. Nat. Resources). (1990). Literature Review on Soil Fertility Investigations in Nigeria. Fed. Min. Agric. Natural Resources, Lagos, Nigeria. 281p.
  7. Gee, G. W. and Or, D. (2002). Particle size Analysis. Pp. 255-293. In: J. H. Dane and G. C. Topp (eds) Methods of Soils Analysis, Part 4, Physical Methods. Soils Sci. Soc. Am. Book Series No. 5, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  8. Grossman, R.B. and Reinsch, T. G. (2002). Bulk density and linear extensibility. Pp. 201-228. In: J. H. Dane and G.C. Topp (eds) Method of Soils Analysis, Part 4, Physical Methods. Soils Sci. Soc. Am. Book Series No 5, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  9. Ijeoma, M. A. (1988). A conceptual ecosystem model for effective gully erosion management: A case study of Onu-Igbere gully. The Int. Symp. Erosion in Southeastern Nigeria. Vol. 1 (1): 92-97.
  10. Loeppert, R. H. and Inskeep, W. P. (1996). Iron. Pp. 639- 664. In: D.L. Sparks (ed) Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Book Series No.5. Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  11. Lindsay, J. I. and Gumbs. F. A. (1982). Erodibility indices compared to measured values of selected Trinidad Soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 46:393-396.
  12. Meyer, L. D. and McCune, D. L. (1958). Rainfall simulator for runoff plots. Agric. Engr., 39:644-648.
  13. Nelson, D. W. and Sommers, L. E. (1996). Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. pp. 961-1010. In: D. L. Sparks (ed) Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Book Series, No.5 Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  14. Nimmo, J. R. and Perkins, K.S. (2002). Aggregate stability and size distribution. pp. 317-328. In: J. H. Dane and G.C. Topp (eds) Methods of Soils Analysis, Part 4, Physical Methods. Soils Sci. Soc. Am. Book Series No 5, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  15. Ofomata, G. E. K. (1988). The Management of soil erosion problems in South eastern, Nigeria. The Int. Symp. Erosion in South eastern, Nigeria. Vol. 1 (1): 3-12.
  16. Ogban, P. I., Ukpong, U. K. and Essien, I. G. (2004). Influence of bush fallow on the physical and chemical properties of acid sands in Southeastern, Nigeria. Nig. J. Soil Res. 5:32-45.
  17. Ogban, P.I, Ukpong, U. K and Essien, I. G. (2005). Influence of bush fallow on the physical properties of acid sands in Southeastern Nigeria. Nig. J. Soil. Sci. 15:96-101.
  18. Sumner, M. E and Miller, W. P. (1996). Cation exchange capacity and exchange coefficient. pp. 1201-1230. In: D. L. Sparks (eds) Methods of Soils Analysis, Part 3, Chemical Methods. Soils Sci. Soc. Am. Book Series No. 5, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
  19. Ukpong, I. E. (1997). Nutrient build-up in Bush fallow soils and its implication to subsistence agriculture in Akwa Ibom State. Ibom J. Soc. Issues 3:82 – 88.
  20. Wischmeier, W. H. and Smith, D. D. (1965). Predicting rainfall erosion losses from cropland east of the rocky mountains. Agric. Handbook No. 282, USDA, Washington, DC. 47p.
  21. Wischmeier, W. H., Johnson, C. B. and Cross, B. V. (1971). A soil erodibility nomograph for farmland and construction sites. J. Soil and Water Conservation 26:189 – 192.
How to Cite

I., O. P., & J, E. I. (2011). Erodibility and Gully Erosion in Relation to Soil Properties in Akwa Ibom State, South Eastern, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, 21(2), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.67042/njss.2011.0wssitwd

O. P. I., and E. I. J, "Erodibility and Gully Erosion in Relation to Soil Properties in Akwa Ibom State, South Eastern, Nigeria," Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 69-79, August 2011. doi: 10.67042/njss.2011.0wssitwd

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF Back to Articles