Determination of the erodibility indices of soils at the new Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The erodibility indices of the ferralitic soils at Avu, Irete, Nekede and Umuguma that constitute the new Owerri in the Owerri Capital Territory of Imo State in southeastern Nigeria were determined using the static laboratory method and the values used in the Universal Soil Loss Equation to predict the soil and sediment losses. Results showed that Avu, Irete, Nekede and
Umuguma had K- indices of 0.31, 0.33, 0.32 and 0.34, respectively, which indicated that the soils in these sites are highly erodible and require conservational structures now that they are serving as the new capital territory with the attendant developmental activities.

Keywords: Soil, erodibility indices, ferralitic, sediment losses, Nigeria