International Journal of Geology, Earth and Environmental Sciences ISSN: 2277-2081 (Online) An Open Access, Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jgee.htm 2014 Vol. 4 (1) January-April, pp. 236-243/Chukwuocha et al. Research Article © Copyright 2014 | Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech) 236 DETERMINATION OF THE ERODIBILITY STATUS OF SOME SOILS IN IKEDURU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA Chukwuocha N., *Amangabara G.T., and Amaechi C. 1 Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526 Owerri *Author for Correspondence ABSTRACT Determination of soil erodibility status in four selected communities of Ikeduru LGA was conducted. Soil samples were collected randomly from Cassava farm, Bamboo field, Fallow land and sparse grassland and were analysed for moisture content, particle size distribution, textural class, organic matter content, permeability and aggregate structure using oven drying method, sieve analysis, triangular chart, and permeability/soil type table. Laboratory results were subjected to statistical analyses. Narrow variation was seen in all the particle size distribution (ranged from 25.10 – 35.15) with samples from sparse grass land vegetation having the least value (35.20), samples from cassava farm and bamboo field had their values as 35.15 and 29.40 respectively. The clay, silt and MC had a negative non-significant relationship with the erodibility status with values of correlation -.412, -.532 and -.836 respectively. While sand percentage content had a positive non significant relationship with erodibility factor K having the values of .670. OMC percentage content had a high positive significant relationship with erodibility factor K , with the value of correlation as 1.000**. There was a high level of significance between clay, silt, sand, OMC, and MC with values of correlation as -.753**, -.714**, -.831**, and .955** respectively. Using regression equations and erodibility classification table the erodibility levels for the four samples locations were estimated and found to fall within the category of >0.2. This low value of erodibility factor implies that the cause of erosion in the study area may not be as a result of the soils only but could be as a result of other erosion causative factors such as rainfall intensity and duration. Keywords: Erosion, Soil Erodibility, USLE, Particle Size, Ikeduru INTRODUCTION Soil erosion refers to the detachment and transportation of soil particles by water, wind ice or gravity. Water and wind are the major driving forces of erosion. The steady and slow processes that occur in nature such as geomorphologic processes cause non-destructive type of erosion, and this type is not detrimental to man‟s wellbeing and is wholly beyond his control. Erosion due to man‟s activity such as deforestation, leveling and cultivation results in accelerated erosion. Commonly speaking, and unless specifically mentioned, erosion refers to accelerated erosion (Tripathi, 2007). While some human activities can significantly increase erosion rates, erosion is triggered by a combination of factors such as steep slopes, climate (e.g. long dry periods followed by heavy rainfall), land cover patterns (e.g. sparse vegetation) and ecological disasters (e.g. forest fire). Some intrinsic features of a soil can also subject it to erosion (e.g. a thin layer of topsoil, silty texture or low organic matter content). Erosions that have gone pass the rill stage and developed into deep gullies are generally irreversible. Soil moved by erosion carries nutrients, pesticides and other harmful chemicals into rivers, streams and ground water resources leading to pollution and siltation of surface water bodies as well as cause drastic reduction of water volume, and eventual siltation and drying up of rivers, water reservoirs and dams. Erosion and the hazards associated with it (e.g. destruction of farmland and houses, destruction of transportation and communication systems, degradation of arable land, contamination of water supply, isolation of settlements and migration of communities), are common features in Imo State. The environmental menace caused by this problem of erosion also affects the economy of the State (Peter et al., 2008)