INVESTIGATION INTO THE SOIL ERODIBILITY INDEX OF AGBANI CAMPUS, ESUT
By Michael John Smith
Research Article
INVESTIGATION INTO THE SOIL ERODIBILITY INDEX OF AGBANI CAMPUS, ESUT
ISSN: 3067-2562
DOI Prefix: 10.5281/zenodo.
Abstract
The havoc orchestrated by soil erosion and degradation in numerous locations of Eastern Nigeria are frightening and constitute a severe threat to life and economic operations of the region. This study investigated the soil erodibility index of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani Campus. Soil samples were randomly collected using soil augar at varying depths of 0-30cm, 31-60cm, 61-90cm from five different locations in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Agbani and analyzed for structural class index, soil permeability class index, organic matter content, % silt + % very fine sand +% sand (100 % clay) from which soil erodibility indices were calculated and soil erosion loss ascertained. The result of the analysis revealed that location B (ESUT Access Bank/ICT area) had the highest K value of 0.07 with low mean clay content and location E (ESUT Engineering Complex axis) had the lowest K value of 0.03 with the high mean clay content. The average erodibility index was calculated to be 0.05 for ESUT, Agbani. The location B (ESUT Access Bank/ICT area) had the highest calculated erosion loss value of 165.14 tons/ ha/yr and it is therefore recommended that the soil depth which covered the first 60cm should be protected by the use of adequate conservation structure, drainage facilities