ESTIMATION OF SOIL LOSS RESULTING FROM WATER EROSION, A CASE STUDY OF GWALLAGA AND BAYARA AREAS OF BAUCHI

Abstract

Soil erosion results to the loss of topsoil, soil fertility and organic matter content in the soil which leads to reduction in crop production potential, lower surface water quality and damaged drainage networks. The objective of the study was to estimate the quantity of soil loss on the field by the application of the universal soil loss equation (USLE), determine the quantity of soil loss under simulated rainfall and compare the results from both methods. Two sites were selected for the study, where a field and laboratory experiments were carried out for estimation of soil loss from samples collected from two fields, Gwallaga and Bayara, the soil loss in tons/ha/yr from the field experiment was estimated to be, 4.37, 4.01, 6.46, and 3.09, 2.83, 3.37 in tons/h/yr. for Bayara and Gwallaga, and the estimated soil loss under simulated rainfall was found to be 5.26, 3.58, 6.34 and 3.54, 2.50, 3.96 tons/h/yr for  Bayara and Gwallaga, result obtain from field and laboratory estimate indicate an accuracy of about 96% it is found out that the result obtain shows close to 96% accuracy, this indicate that the rainfall simulator can be best used for erosion estimation studies. The soil type on the two fields which range from clay- sandy-loam, clay-loam and sandy-loam, shows that the amount of soil loss in tons/h/yr. is low as it does not exceed 7.0tonne/h/yr. and it is therefore tolerable. However erosion control measure need to be taken to prevent continues occurrence of erosion which may lead to depletion of soil properties.