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Amanze N. N.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Abia State, Nigeria
Oduma O.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Abia State, Nigeria
Orji F. N.
Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Abia State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The physical characteristics of the demonstration farm of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike was assessed using predictive relationships of organic matter and textural analysis of the soil in the farm. The study area was divided into three sections and was labelled A1, A2 and A3 for random observations. Soil samples were collected from different locations of the sections and taken to laboratory for analysis. Soil parameters such as particle sizes, moisture content, permeability, bulk density, organic matter content, porosity and textural class were investigated. Then the erodibility index and annual soil loss of the area were determined. Results obtained revealed that the dominant soils in MOUAU demonstration farm were sandy-loam and loamy- sand soil. The area recorded a very high percentage sand content range of 80.9% - 82.26% with a low percentage clay content range of 5.60 – 12.9%. The bulk density of the area lies between 1.17 - 1.57g/cm3 and porosity range of 21 – 40%. Furthermore, the infiltration rate of soil in the area varies from 25mm/hr to 35mm/hr and permeability range from 1.16211 x 10-3 to1.63631 x 10-3. The predicted soil loss in the area varies from 237.28 – 261.01tons/ha/yr. Results generally revealed that the erodibility index of the area ranges from 0 – 0.11, an indication that the soil had the tendency of being eroded under intense rainfall.
Keywords: Demonstration farm, erodibility potential, infiltration, rainfall, soil loss
https://doi.org/10.33922/j.ujet_v6i2_12
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Published
Friday, January 22, 2021
Issue
Vol. 6 No. 2, December 2020
Article Section
GENERAL
The contents of the articles are the sole opinion of the author(s) and not of UJET.
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