EROSION MODELING IN NORTHERN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
EROSION MODELING IN NORTHERN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2015-10
Authors
AGI, William Ogbale
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Abstract
Erosion is one of the major problems in Nigeria and Benue State in particular. Uncontrolled deforestation, unhealthy agricultural practices, indiscriminate land clearing due to urbanization resulted in widespread soil erosion over the land surface of Northern Makurdi. The aim of the study was to apply Remote Sensing and GIS techniques in erosion modeling in Northern Makurdi. The objectives of this thesis were to determine the major causes of soil erosion in the study area, estimation of the average amount of annual soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and to map and analyze the distribution of soil erosion sites within Northern Makurdi for the years 2003 to 2012. Data on rainfall Data, soil erodibility, topography, cover management and support practice were utilized. The sediment yield of the study was estimated to be between 0 to 48ton/ha/yr. This number is expected to increase with time as agricultural activities and deforestation continue to take place. The major causes of soil erosion within the study are the erosivity of the rainfall, low cover management and support practice. The estimated soil losses were higher at Utagudu, parts of Agan, North Bank, Ajoraku and Ihyev settlements, Akondonyou, some parts of North bank and Kwabo areas recorded low losses. Land use mostly affected by very high and severe erosion are the bare soils and the crop lands. About 62% of the study area suffered low erosion, less than 15% of the study with moderate and high erosion and 34% of the study suffered severe erosion. Land use mostly affected by very high and severe erosion are the bare soils and the crop lands. The urban areas also showed traces of severe erosion which may be due to forms of urbanization and development. A soil loss map of study was produced showing areas of various risks. In the immediate and medium term, it is expected that a halt in deforestation, bush burning and indiscriminate land clearing so as to protect the land and as well serve as an effective strategy for management of the sediments. In the longer term, the agricultural practices such as stripcropping, terracing, cover cropping, mulching as a strategy should be implemented, based on modifications to the current land use practices, to encourage soil conservation and minimize soil loss from the contributing settlements.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA-NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY FACULTY OF SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA
Keywords
EROSION MODELING,, NORTHERN MAKURDI,, BENUE STATE,, NIGERIA