The Particle Size Distribution of Laterite Soil at Ekosodin, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

The laterite soil particle-size distribution provides a preliminary knowledge of the rate of failure and the strength of soil to resist load pressure and subsequent susceptibility to gully erosion. This study was carried out to determine the particle size distribution of laterite soil at Ekosodin, Benin City, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. This was achieved by collecting a total of twenty soil samples from the gully zone of Ekosodin and carrying out sieve and hydrometer analyses on the recovered soil. The average percentage weight of fines smaller than the following grain diameters: 1.18mm, 0.425mm, 0.075mm, 0.040mm, 0.010mm, 0.003mm, and 0.001mm, were approximately 96%, 74%, 45%, 35%, 28%, 21%, and 15% respectively. The coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature classified the laterite soil as a well graded soil consisting of a representative of all grain sizes in a good complementary proportion. However, the significant quantity of fine in the soil composition made it susceptible to gully erosion in the presence of intense water movement.