A Study of Soil Factors in Relation to Erosion and Land Use on a Nigeria Soil.

Abstract

An assessment of the effects of erosion on the soil productivity of Agbor area of Delta State, Southern Nigeria was evaluated. The investigation involved three (3) soils (Virgin forest, Arable cropping and Traffic soils) with history of erosion. The aggregate stability, mean weight diameter (MWD) and state aggregation of soil of the area was studied, since these soils properties have direct relationship with soil erodibility. The results reveals that the soil texture was loamy sand. mean weight diameter values ranged from 0.56 mm (Traffic), 0.74 mm (arable cropping) and 1.25 mm (virgin forest). State of aggregation ranged from 12.00 mm (arable cropping), 23.00 mm (traffic) and 43.3 mm (virgin forest). Mean porosity 65.4 mm (traffic soils), 72.1 mm (arable cropping) and 77.0 mm (virgin forest). Mean aggregate stability ranged from 74.4 mm (traffic soils), 25.8 mm (arable cropping) and 48.00 mm (virgin forest). Soil organic matter mean values ranged from 0.08 g/ kg (traffic soils), 1.90 g/ kg (arable cropping) and 2.72 g/ kg (virgin forest), respectively. The results recorded for virgin forest relative to arable cropping and traffic soils in most of the soil properties evaluated is an indi- cation that current land use practices in Agbor area contribute immensely to the accelerated soil degradation observed in the area.