SOURCE:

Faculty: Biosences
Department: Applied Biochemistry

CONTRIBUTORS:

UBAOJI K. IKECHUKWU
NNABUDE P. C.
EZEONU F. C.

ABSTRACT:

Erosion menace has imposed economic loss, physical damage and psychological trauma on the environment where it is situated and thus has catastrophic consequence beyond what we know. This study investigated soil chemistry and edaphic factors of erosive sites to ascertain the import of these in the erodibility of soils of Anambra State. Several erosion sites located within three major soil zones of Anambra State and a control reflecting least erosion areas were used for the studies. Soil samples were collected from the profiles of selected gully sites in Anambra State classified based on their geologic soil characteristics as erosion prone zones. The samples were collected for analysis after in-situ tests were carried out at the sites. Physicochemical properties of soils from these study areas were investigated using standard methods while metal analyses were conducted with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results of the investigation revealed that though there were no statistical difference (p< 0.05) in the biochemical properties of the soils of the three major soil zones in Anambra State even with the relative size of soil particles, comparism of the Mean ± SEM of both sites showed a consistent difference in their values. However, there was a statistical difference (p< 0.05) in the mean values of the pH of the eroded sites and non-eroded sites. When the samples were grouped according to zones; Agulu-Nanka, Awka South, Idemili and Control, the result of analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that there was a significant difference (p< 0.01) with particle density and base saturation of the zones while MANOVA analysis result showed a significant different (p < 0.05) in soil resistivity between the control and all the zones. There was also a significant difference (p< 0.05) with Loss on Ignition between Agulu-Nanka and Control sites. Similarly, a high significant difference (p< 0.01) was observed with base saturation of Awka South zone versus Agulu-Nanka zone, Idemili zone and Control. Base saturation which was derived from exchangeable cations revealed serious correlation. The exchangeable cations (Na and Mg) when anaylsed using students’t test, showed a significant difference (p< 0.05) between the eroded and non-eroded sites. Other metals that showed significant difference (p< 0.05) were Ag, Al, Cd, Pb and Ni. When grouped into zones, there also existed significant difference (p< 0.05) with Mg, Ag, Si and Ni of these zones. Pearson correlation analyses of the results showed significant correlation (p< 0.01and p< 0.05) among some soil stability parameters and certain soil properties. The study showed that biochemical properties of the soils in the erosion prone areas had significant relationship with soil edaphic and rheological parameters and could therefore be critical in the management of soil erosion in Anambra State.