Paper Contents
Abstract
Gully erosion is a global threat to soil and food security. It is a serious problem to soil and land management in Africa. This study is aimed at measuring the quantitative impact of gully erosion and to evaluate the soil quality, soil fertility and land suitability around Argungu, Augie, Birnin Kebbi and Gwandu areas of Kebbi State, Nigeria. Sixty-four (64) soil samples were collected and assessed from the sixteen (16) different sites in the study areas. The results shows that of these 16 sites, more than half (13 sites) were critically damaged. The highest value of soil volume loss (796647.2 m3) was recorded at Gwandu whereas the lowest (241.60 m3) was recorded at Augie. The maximum width (49.56 m) was recorded at Tarasa and minimum (1.01 m) at Argungu 2. Likewise, maximum depth (8.666 m) was recorded at Badariyya and minimum (0.94 m) was recorded at Argungu1. Land and soil quality were characterized as bad and not suitable for agriculture. Significant portion of lands appeared to be vulnerable to landslides and further surface soil damage. Results also shows that the natural soil structural units, which were evaluated as granular, massive and single-grains appeared to have massive, small polyhedrals, very irregular, non-coherent, loose and poorly coordinated. It was observed that these characteristics of the study sites played a major role on the drainage pattern for gully erosion impact, and probably predicted high risk of soil quality deterioration and total surface soil damage in the near future. The study further suggested the use of technological and agronomic soil management options, which include the adoption of multiple scientific and cultural approaches such as planting of shelter belts across the affected sites, advanced drainage systems and provision of water ways, as well as inter- and mixed cropping systems among others.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Aminu, A.. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
