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ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of soil erosion on some soil physical and chemical properties.
The study area is located between latitude 06.40660o N and longitude 005.62715o E at an altitude of 105m above sea level. Four (4) different gully erosion sites were randomly selected around Ekosodin purposively. Composite soil samples were collected adjacent to the gullies in replicate in each of the location using a soil auger at depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm respectively. Core samples were also collected in replicate across all locations. Undisturbed soil samples were collected for the determination of bulk density. Control samples were also collected following same procedures above. A total of 30 samples (15 auger samples and 15 core samples) were collected. Each of the locations was georeferenced using a global positioning system (GPS)
Results showed that particle size analysis which indicated the percentage of sand, silt and clay collected from the erosion sites had high sand and low silt content with averagely low clay content. Sand particles was significantly high in all of the locations. Location 4 had the highest value of 930 g/kg and placed the soils in the textural class Sand. Location 2 was the second highest with value of 803.30 g/kg and qualifies it to be in the textural class Loamy Sand (LS). Ekosodin Road gully (768.30 g/kg) and UNIBEN Staff Club gully (740 g/kg) respectively. Bulk density values were highly affected by soil texture. It could be noted that the slight differences could be attributed to the differences in organic matter content and the severity of erosion which are key factors that influences bulk density. Capitol gully recorded the highest value of bulk density (1.57 g/cm3) and was significantly different from other locations at (≤ 0.05) level of probability. Conclusively, the data obtained from this study would help and guide different agencies, planners and other agents of environmental management on the issue of erosion which is taken occasionally for granted in the course of planning.
