JOURNAL OF DEGRADED AND MINING LANDS MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2339-076X (p); 2502-2458 (e), Volume 5, Number 3 (April 2018): 1161-1169 DOI:10.15243/jdmlm.2018.053.1161 www.jdmlm.ub.ac.id 1161 Research Article Assessment of the effect of land use /land cover changes on total runoff from Ofu River catchment in Nigeria Meshach Ileanwa Alfa 1*, M.A. Ajibike 2 , Donatus B. Adie 2 ,O.J. Mudiare 2 1 University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, 2 Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria *corresponding author : meshilalfa@gmail.com Received 29 December 2017, Accepted 27 February 2018 Abstract : The total runoff from a catchment is dependent on both the soil characteristics and the land use/land cover (LULC) type. This study was conducted to examine the effect of changes in land cover on the total runoff from Ofu River Catchment in Nigeria. Classified Landsat imageries of 1987, 2001 and 2016 in combination with the soil map extracted from the Digital Soil Map of the World was used to estimate the runoff curve number for 1987, 2001 and 2016. The runoff depth for 35 years daily rainfall data was estimated using Natural Resource Conservation Services Curve Number (NRCS-CN) method. The runoff depths obtained for the respective years were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance at 95% level of significance. P-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Runoff curve numbers obtained for 1987, 2001 and 2016 were 61.83, 63.26 and 62.79 respectively. The effects of the changes in LULC for 1987-2001, 2001-2016 and 1987-2016 were statistically significant (P<0.001) at 95% confident interval. The average change in runoff depths were 79.81% -11.10% and 48.09% respectively for 1987-2001, 2001-2016 and 1987-2016. The study concluded that the changes in LULC of the catchment had significant effect on the runoff from the catchment. Keywords: curve number, LULC, Ofu River catchment, runoff, soil type To cite this article: Alfa, M.I., Ajibike, M.A., Adie, D.B. and Mudiare, O.J. 2018. Assessment of the effect of land use /land cover changes on total runoff from Ofu River catchment in Nigeria. J. Degrade. Min. Land Manage. 5(3): 1161-1169, DOI: 10.15243/jdmlm. 2018.053.1161. Introduction Runoff refers to that part of precipitation which is drained from land after all losses such as groundwater and evaporation and makes its way towards the river, stream or ocean (Patra, 2008; Suresh, 2008; Mustafa and Yusuf, 2012). Among other factors, land use/ land cover type has been identified as one of the major factors that could affect the amount of precipitation that ends up as runoff (Patra, 2008). Land use degradation can significantly affect infiltration and surface roughness which could lead to higher flood discharges (Saghafian et al., 2008). In as much as weather and climate are the major determinants of flood, land cover changes can also influence the occurrence and frequency of floods by changing the responsiveness of river flows to rainfall (Solín et al., 2011). The assessment of land use/ land cover changes is therefore very important in catchment flood studies. Ofu River catchment in Nigeria has a very long history of being flooded which among other factors may not be unconnected with the consistent land use changes primarily due to urbanization in the area. A holistic understanding of the factors responsible for this menace will require an investigation into the role this land use changes play in the runoff to receiving water bodies. This knowledge will contribute to the management of the flood menace within the catchment. Notwithstanding the importance of this investigation, none has been carried out in the present study area to the best of