ASSESSMENT OF SOIL PROPERTIES AT GULLY EROSION SITES IN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Samaila, Kunden Ishaya and Onu, Veronica

Department of Geography

Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Email: ikunden@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Gully erosion is a serous environmental problem that has created irretrievable changes in most parts of Nigeria’s environment. Despite several measures at addressing this environmental catastrophe erosion is still a problem that has seemed to defy all possible solutions. This study assessed soil properties at gully erosion sites in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Data for this study were sourced mainly from fieldwork. This involved the collection of soil samples at the gully erosion sites. A total of eleven soil samples at the gully sites and three at control sites were taken. The soils samples were analyzed for physical and chemical properties such as; bulk density and total porosity by core method, Bouyoucos hydrometer method for particle size, moisture content and organic matter were determined after Walkey and Black (1934), pH using a glass-calomel combination electrode, available phosphorous Bray p-1 extracting solution, total nitrogen by macro-kjedal method, base saturation calculated as the sum of exchangeable bases divided by C.E.C, exchangeable acidity by titration method, cation exchangeable capacity, Na⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ by Ammonium acetate leaching method, while K⁺ ,  and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) by atomic absorption spectrophotometer screening.  Findings from the study showed that electrical conductivity was between 60umhos to 210umhos, with a mean of 114.55umhos indicating salinity built up in the soil. pH was between 4.55 to 10.18, with a mean of 6.43 showing high variation in distribution, Nitrogen concentration was from.04% to .42%, with a mean of .13% and was low as in most West African Soils, sodium was between .48meq/kg to .53meq/kg, with a mean of .52meq/kg, magnesium 1.28meg/kg to 1.70meq/kg, with a mean of 1.55meq/kg, calcium was 3.38meq/kg to 4.01meq/kg, with a mean of 3.68meq/kg  and potassium from .10meq/kg to .39meq/kg, with a mean of .25meq/kg. These major cations were generally low in the soils. Trace elements such as iron, zinc and copper were also low for the soils at the gully sites. A T-test showed the properties of the soils at the gully sites and control sites had no significant difference in distribution at 0.05 confidence level. The study therefore recommends that, there is the need for reclaiming the gully erosion sites to restore them to usable state and also increase in tree planting so as to reduce the threat pose by erosion in the study area.

Keywords: Gully, Anthropogenic, Degradation, Salinity and Processes