Determination of Soil Microaggregates Indices of Gully Erosion on Some Arable Lands in Yola South Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at determining soil microaggregates indices of gully erosion on some arable lands in Yola South LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Three arable lands were selected, namely Yolde pate, Mbamba and Bole where gullies were randomly selected based on the gully distributions. The nature and characteristics such as age, shape, size, pattern, position, activity, stage and continuity of the gullies were observed and soil samples were collected along the gully wall layers (top, middle and bottom). The collected samples were prepared for soil micro- aggregates analysis in the laboratory and also soil microaggregates indices were calculated respectively. The results revealed that 12 gullies were identified characterized with small to large size having annular and dendritic pattern facing NW, SW and NE in an active and continuous process of development. The microaggregate indices of all the areas shows that the soils have high susceptibility to erosion with CDR > 15 %. At Yolde pate area CDR and CDI varied from 77.17-40.42 % and 69.17-33.92 % while at Mbamba 74.32-42.44 % and 78.74-39.45 % and Bole 71.62-45.58 %. However, the erosion susceptibility decreased from top to bottom of the gullies due to increase in CFI values at Bole and Yolde pate areas. To realize improve soil micoraggregate stability in the area, It is therefore recommended that farmers should adopt the use of organic materials incorporation and improve proper land use management.