Evaluation of erodibility indices and soil properties affected by land-use types in Mbano, south-east Nigeria

Abstract

Soil erosion has been at the forefront of the degradation of soils under different land-use types in southeast Nigeria. Hence, this research aimed to determine the erodibility of the soils under different land-use types in Mbano. The four land-use types selected were oil palm plantation (OP), cassava farm (CF), pineapple orchard (PO) and plantain plantation (PP). However, clay dispersion ratio (CDR), clay dispersion index (CDI) and clay flocculation index (CFI) were the erodibility indices used. A total of 5 composite samples were collected randomly from each type of the land-uses at a depth of 0-20 cm using the free survey. The samples were subjected to laboratory analysis. Data generated were analyzed statistically using a completely randomized design of analyses of variance (ANOVA) and correlation. CDR had an increasing order of 47.9% <48.16% <51.49% <56.24% for soils under CF, PP, PO and OP, while CDI had 36.44%, 29.06%, 40.96% and 49.04% for soils under OP, CF, PO and PP land uses. CFI had 63.62%, 71.24%, 59.14% and 50.96% for soils under OP, CF, PO and PP, respectively. The ANOVA indicated that studied erodibility indices had no significant difference (p=0.05) among the soils under the different land-uses. The research will unite farmers and other land-users in adopting only good conservation practices that will aid the sustainability of the area.