Quest Journals
Journal of Research in Environmental and Earth Sciences
Volume 7 ~ Issue 2 (2021) pp: 07-16
ISSN(Online) :2348-2532
www.questjournals.org
*Corresponding Author: Kadmiel Oliver 7 | Page
Research Paper
Assessment of the nature of the sediment loading in the channel of
Mubi Section of River Yedzeram at Lokuwa Bridge, Northeastern
Nigeria.
1
Kadmiel Oliver,
1
Ezekiel Yonnana,
1
Wesley Philemon
2
Ibrahim Bobboi,
2
Auwal Umar, and
3
Jackson Matapa
1
Department of Geography, Adamawa State University Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria
2
Department of Geography, Federal Collage of Education Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria
3
Department of Geography, Federal Army University Bue, Borno State, Nigeria
Assessment of the nature of the sediment loading in the channel of Mubi Section of River Yedzeram at Lokuwa
Bridge, Northeastern Nigeria was the main objective of the reseatch. Equipment required for field
measurements of suspended load sediment and bed load sediment included improvised suspended load sampler,
Helley-Smith bed load sampler, inventory checklist, Sample ID forms (sampling information and identification)
and labels, G. P.S, Camera, Protective clothing, tape, and Personnel. The sampling procedure used was area
sampling technique through equal increment of width (IIL), using the same transit rate for all verticals and the
same bill along the same cross-section. The cross-section of the river was divided in to thirteen (13) sections
(3m) each with their distinct boundaries, after which the use of systematic sampling technique was adopted and
drew one sample from each section so that the total samples were thirteen (13) for the whole cross-section. The
result obtained indicated that the mean volume of sediments that passed through Lokuwa Bridge station was
2164g within 20 second. The major nature of the channel bed was medium sand, consisting of 28.60%, followed
by coarse sand 27.73%, then fine sand 17.38%, gravel 15.11%, pebbles 6.47%, cobbles 1.99%, boulders 1.76%,
silt 0.97%, and 0% clay contents (table 2). This implies that channel bed of Yedzeram majorly consisted of
medium sand without clay. The Cu was 0.145 which was less than 4-6, while Cc was 4.768 above the range 1-3,
which indicated that the sediment sizes were not well graded. In a year, the volume of 2,883,604.1472g of
suspended load passed through River Yedzeram at Lokuwa Bridge. This result indicated that the volume of
water that passed through Lokuwa Bride was averagely turbid. It was recommended that; Awareness on the
turbid nature of water that pass through Yedzeram channel around Alaokuwa Bridge should be done, so as to
reduce the level of negative effects of contaminated water on human and properties, secondly, there is a serious
lack of hydrologic and morphometric records and data in the area. Therefore, much data gathering by
appropriate agencies in areas like Geomorphology, Hydrology, Geology, Soil science and Soil engineering
required from relevant related fields is required. Dredging of the river channel should be done so as to remove
the accumulated bed load particles that are presently cemented in the river. This will result to smooth flow of
the water in the river.
Keywords: Bed Load, Bed-Load Sampler, Channel, Fine Material, Particle Diameter, Sediment, suspended load
sediment and Total Sediment Discharge.
Received 28 Jan, 2021; Revised: 10 Feb, 2021; Accepted 12 Feb, 2021 © The author(s) 2021.
Published with open access at www.questjournals.org
I. INTRODUCTION
Sedimentation of water bodies is a global geomorphic phenomenon that possesses threat to the
morphological structure of the waters and concern on the sustainable functions of the bodies as vital water
resources (Oliver 2016). When sedimentation occurs in excess, it directly affects the health of a waterway,
decreasing its life-supporting capacity.
Sedimentation is the tendency for particles in suspension to settle out of the fluid in which they are
entrained and come to rest against a barrier. This is due to their motion through the fluid in response to the
forces acting on them: these forces can be due to gravity, centrifugal acceleration, or electromagnetism (Joanne
et al 2011).