Effect of Crop Cover on Soil Susceptibility to Erosion in South Eastern Nigeria

 

Oruk Egbai

 

Full Length Research Paper I Published December,2016

 

Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies Vol. 2 (4), pp. 50-57

ABSTRACT

Effect of crop on soil susceptibility to erosion in south eastern Nigeria was conducted at Cross River State nursery site in May 2014 to evaluate the potentials of some crops in controlling soil loss. Four experimental blocks consisting cassava (Manihot esculenta), maize (zea mays), Cocoyam (Colocosia sagittifolium) and melon (Colocynthis valgaris). Complete Randomized Block Design (CRBD) was employed to replicate crops in the various blocks. Soil samples were collected to determine their textual characteristics. Descriptive statistics was used to reveal the crop with the highest soil protection potential. The observed results indicated that, cassava and maize plots generated the highest sediment yield, while melon plots produced the lowest sediment yield followed by the mixed crop plot. Cassava has sediment yield of 2168.3, maize 166.3, melon 113.6 and 124.0 g from mixed crop. For cassava, the yield for cassava was 2805 and melon 1893 g hac^-1. The result revealed that the volume of soil loss hac^-1was below the soil tolerance limits. This may be attributable to soil characteristics and farming methods that reduce the vulnerability of soil to the impact of rain. The results show that, the inherent characteristics of the various crops were expressed in their ability to resist erosion perturbation. The study among other things recommends the cultivation of melon crop on slope above 5% as mono crop or intercropped other crops with melon in order to reduce soil susceptibility to erosion and guarantee optimum soil protection. The cultivation of cassava or maize as mono crop on sloppy land terrain will greatly encourage soil erosion process except alternative check mechanisms are considered to ameliorate the impact of water erosion. Crops are generally affordable, available and contain essential nutritive value at the same time guarantee soil protection possibility. The use of appropriate cropping system in an undulating landscape will not only ensure soil stability but will add sufficient value to increased food production.  

Key words: Soil susceptibility, Soil erosion, Soil loss, Sediment trap and Tolerance limit.

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