Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

7(4):38-45
Published December, 2011 Chris-Emenyonu, and Onweremadu, 2011

INDICATORS OF ERODIBILITY OF SOILS UNDER DIFFERENT LAND

USE TYPES IN IMO STATE.
Chris-Emenyonu, C. M. and Onweremadu, E. U.
ABSTRACT
Department of Soil Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology P.M.B 1526 Owerri. Email of corresponding
author: millicentemenyonu@gmail.com

Soil erosion is a major environmental problem in Southeastern Nigeria. The study was conducted on three land use types namely
fallow land (Control), oil palm plantation and cassava farm to investigate erodibility of soils. Two indirect measures were used
namely, clay dispersion index and clay dispersion ratio. These land use types served as treatments and 5 samples were collected
from soils under each land use in the depths of 0-15cm. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design. The
samples were analyzed in the laboratory. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to estimate variability among land use. Simple
correlation analysis was conducted to establish relationship among soil properties. Means were separated using least significant
difference (LSD) at 5% level of probability. Sand fraction dominated with mean percentage values of 84.44, 87.40, and 85.30 in
the fallow land, oil palm plantation and cassava land, respectively. The clay dispersion index and clay dispersion ratio used as an
index of erosion were high. The clay dispersion index is a better index of erodibility because when it was correlated with different
parameters such as ECEC and organic matter the values obtained were higher than that of clay dispersion ratio. Clay dispersion
index correlated positively with organic matter with values of r = 0.990 in the fallow land, the oil palm plantation and cassava
dominated land use values were r = 0.99, and r = 097 respectively. pH in water and KCl were higher in the cassava dominated
land use with a mean value of 4.90 in water and 4.30 in KCl. Total porosity was higher in soils under oil palm plantation with
mean percentage values of 65. There was a non-significant (p<0.05) difference in soil OC, TN., AP, TP, ECEC, %BS, Sand, Soil
moisture, Bulk density in all land use .The area inherent erodibility was considered as high thus pointing to the need for careful
use and management of the soil resource. Availability of various soil nutrients varied in the three land use types. The Oil palm
plantation had the highest SOM, AP, TEB, Mg, ECEC, % B.S and lowest Al content.

Keywords: Degradation, Clay dispersion index, Clay dispersion ratio, land use types.

INTRODUCTION
Soils serve agronomic, environmental, engineering and recreational functions (Zinck, 1990). However, soils are
subject to deterioration, which is aggravated by increasing farming population who cultivate fragile slope soils
(Onweremadu, 2006). Decline in the quality of such soil because of erosion is one of the ecological problems that is
ravaging the Nigerian landscape, especially Southeastern Nigeria. Water erosion is unarguably the most active in the
ultisols of southern Nigeria (Mbagwu, 1992). Igwe et al. (2002) related erodibility of soils in southeastern Nigeria to
soil moisture retention characteristics and texture. Osuji and Onweremadu (2007) reported variability in structural
stability due to land use, and this had significant relationship with organic matter and erodibilty. Erodibility has been
measured using direct and indirect indices such as water dispersed clay (WDC), clay flocculation index (CFI),
aggregated silt and clay (ASC), clay dispersion index (CDI) and clay dispersion ratio (CDR). The fraction of clay that
disperses in water which is known as water-dispersible clay (WDC) has been shown by Kjaergaard et al. (2004) as an
important property with respect to predicting soil erosion and colloid Leaching. The clay-dispersion ratio (CDR)
derived from the clay contents, water dispersed clay (WDC) and the clay dispersion index (CDI) have been
successfully used to predict erosion by water. Igwe (2005) remarked that the clay-dispersion ratio and dispersion
index were found to be good indices for predicting erodibility in some soils of southeastern Nigeria.
The vulnerability of soils to erosive forces is affected by land use. This is because soil properties vary according to
the use to which they are put. Onweremadu, (2005) reported variability in porosity of soil as well as changes in
organic matter (Mbah et al., 2007) due to land use. Imo State has densely populated urban and rural communities and
soils are used for agricultural and non-agricultural uses. These land use activities increase pressure on the soil
resource, resulting to various forms of soil. erosion. In the state, about 261 gullies have been documented
(Onyewuchi, 1996) indicating that the state is severely threatened by gully erosion .These threatens livelihood and
comfort. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the efficiency of some indices to predict
erodibility of soils under different land use types in Imo, southeastern Nigeria.

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 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 7(4):38-45
Published December, 2011 Chris-Emenyonu, and Onweremadu, 2011

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study area
The study was conducted at Ubachime 1, Awo-Ommama in Oru East in Imo state in 2010. The fallow land with 1 or 2
years fallow periods lies between latitude 6 0 11 38 011, longitude 6 0 581 111 with an elevation of 223m.The Oil palm
groove lies between latitude 6 0 10 4011, longitude 60 581 311 and elevation of 223m, while the cassava dominated land
lies between latitude 5 0 401 1611, longitude 6 0 57 1 5611 and elevation of 216m.These information on geographical
coordinates were accessed using handheld Global positioning system (GPS) Receiver. The soils of the study area are
derived from coastal plain sands (Benin Formation) (Orajaka, 1975). The soils were deep, porous and reddish in
colour and belong to the Ferrallitic soils delineated by Jungerius (1964) in the soil map of Eastern Nigeria. The
climate is humid tropical with minimum and maximum temperatures of 20 0C and 30 0C, respectively. The mean
annual temperature ranges from 27-28 0C, with relative humidity ranging from 70-80 % ( Ofomata, 1975). The area is
characterized by two seasons, rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season starts in March / April with its peak in July and
September. The mean annual rainfall of this site varies from 2000-2500 mm. The dry season starts in November and
ends in March. The general vegetation in the study area is rainforest characterized by a multi-storey plant structure
.Farming is the major socio-economic activity of the area. Land clearing is by slash- and- burn and soil fertility
regeneration is by the bush fallow system.
Field survey
Three land use types, namely Grass fallow, Oil palm plantation and Cassava- dominated farms were used for the
study. Five replicate soil samples were collected at random in each land use from the 0-15cm depth. The study was
laid out in randomized complete block design with fallow land use as the control. In addition to surface samples, five
core samples were collected from each land use type for the determination of bulk density.
Laboratory analyses
The collected soil samples were air-dried and passed through a 2-mm sieve for the following laboratory analyses.
The particle size analysis using water and calgon as dispersing agents was determined by the hydrometer method as
described by Gee and Or (2002). Silt- clay ratio was obtained by calculation. Soil moisture content was
gravimetrically determined .Bulk density was determined according to the procedure of Grossman and Reinsch
(2002). The total Porosity (Tp) was determined from bulk density using the equation Tp = [1-(Bd/Pd)] 100%
(Vomocil, 1965). Where Tp= Total porosity; Bd=Bulk density; Pd=Particle density. Clay dispersion ratio was
calculated from % silt and %clay in water dispersed samples divided by calgon dispersed samples, multiplied by 100
( Middleton,1930). Clay Dispersion index was calculated as % clay dispersed in water divided by % clay dispersed in
calgon multiplied by 100. CDR=WDC (water) /TC (calgon). Soil pH was measured in 0.1NKCl and distilled water on
a Beckman Zeromatic pH meter using a glass electrode at a 1:2:5 soil- water ratio. Exchangeable acidity was
determined by an unbuffered saturated solution such as 1N KCl at the pH of the soil (Mclean, 1982). Organic Carbon
(OC) was obtained by the Walkey and Black digestion method (Nelson and Sommers, 1982). Exchangeable bases
(Ca, Mg, Na and K) were extracted from the soil in 1M Ammonium acetate solution (Jackson, 1959). The
exchangeable Potassium (K) and sodium (Na) in the extract were determined by the flame photometric method while
the exchangeable calcium and Magnesium were determined using ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid titration method
(EDTA). Total Nitrogen (TN) was measured by Micro- kjedahl digestion method (Bremner and Mulvaney, 1982).
Available Phosphorus was determined by Bray11 method (Olsen and Sommers, 1982). Organic matter, effective
cation exchange capacity (ECEC), Total exchangeable base (TEB), Exchangeable acidity, Percentage base saturation,
Carbon/Nitrogen ratio and Calcium /magnesium ratio were determined by calculation.
Data analyses
The results obtained are presented on tables. Relationships among soil properties and erodibility under different land
use types were estimated using simple correlation analysis. Variability in soil physical and chemical properties was
determined by analysis of variance and differences in means were separated using the least significant difference
[LSD] at 5% level of significance.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The physical properties obtained and the indices used to predict erodibility are presented on Table1. Soil physical
properties were different with change in land use. Sand sized particles dominated. The high value of the sand fraction
compared to the silt and clay fractions is typical of soils of Southeastern Nigeria, formed largely from the coastal plain
sands. The high dominance of sand in the area implies that higher particles of silt, clay and other colloidal materials

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 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 7(4):38-45
Published December, 2011 Chris-Emenyonu, and Onweremadu, 2011
are carried away leaving the heavier sand particles with poor nutrient (Obi and Asiegbu, 1980). The low clay content
of these three land use types may be because of high translocation due to downward clay movement through large
pores (Akamigbo, 1983). Evans (1980) examined erodibility in terms of the clay content indicating that soils low of
clay fraction are most susceptible to erosion .Oil palm plantation had the lowest percentage mean clay value indicating
high erodibility. Bulk density was low generally. However, the highest value obtained was in the cassava land use
type with a mean value of 1.09g/ cm3, followed by the fallow land (0.98g/cm3) and the oil palm plantation of
0.90g/cm3. Soil bulk density is an important property in relation to erosion by water since it reflects the level of
compaction, cohesiveness and structural development of soils (Heard et al., 1988). The percentage mean soil moisture
value was higher in fallow land than the other land use types. Soil moisture is low and it is attributed to the high sand
content. The low soil moisture content can equally be attributed to the low soil organic matter content. Runoff and
erosion losses of soil and nutrient tend to be high with high bulk density because rain water infiltration is restricted.
Soil porosity was generally high and it is attributed to the low bulk density. Low porosity encourages water erosion
because it seriously restricts water entry into the soil. Porosity less than 50% is not desirable.
The CDR indicates a sharp boundary between erodible and non erodible soil and CDR greater than 15% indicates
erodible and values lower than 15% indicates non-erodible. The soils from the various land use types were erodible
(CDR>15%) in line with Middleton (1930). The clay dispersion index and clay dispersion ratio were in the order of
the oil palm groove> cassava land >fallow land. Clay Dispersion Index (CDI) and Clay Dispersion ratio are micro
aggregate stability indices (Mbagwu and Bazzoffi, 1998).The high clay dispersion index signifies poor aggregation
and high erodibility. The CDR and CDI do not only relate significantly (p=0.5) with soil erosion but other negative
features in the soil. Igwe (2005) remarked that the clay-dispersion ratio and dispersion index were found to be good
indices for predicting erodibility in some soils of southeastern Nigeria.
Soil chemical constituents affect the resistance of soils to forces generated by agents of erosion. Data obtained on
chemical properties are presented on Table 2. The values of pH obtained in KCl were lower than those in water. The
mean soil pH ranged from 4.16 to 4.30 in all the three-land use types indicating that the soils are highly acidic. Low
soil pH characterizes tropical soils that have always been subjected to severe weathering and leaching due to high
rainfall and ambient temperature (Lal, 1979). The organic matter content was generally low in all three land use types.
However, the lowest was in fallow land and the highest in the oil palm land use and the later may be attributed to the
oil palm bunches. Low organic matter content implies poor macro aggregate disruption making soils vulnerable to
erosion (Lal, 1990). The contribution of SOM to soil aggregation cannot be overemphasized. Soil organic matter has
been reported to act as an aggregating or disaggregating material in soil (Mbagwu and Bazzoffi, 1998). Therefore, a
soil with high organic matter will be resistance to soil crusting and compaction, have high fertility status, better root
growth of crops, and improved crop yields. The low organic matter content of the soils indicates poor aggregate
stability and predisposes the soil to dispersion and erosion (Brady and Well, 2002). From the result, the fallow land is
more prone to erosion followed by the cassava land and then the oil palm plantation.
The percentage total nitrogen was generally low. Nitrogen in the Nitrite or Nitrate form is soluble and so can be lost in
solution without any physical movement occurring (Ahn, 1970). The effective cation exchange capacity values were
low in soils under the three land use. The very low ECECs reminded that the adsorption capacity of these soils was
humus-dependent. Available Phosphorus was low. Phosphorus is mainly lost along with the colloidal particles in
whose surface its absorbed (Hudson, 1971).The highest value of available Phosphorus was obtained in the Oil palm
plantation; this could be attributed to high litter accumulation which contributed to much of the available Phosphorus.
Also, the Oil palm forms a protective covering that could have and reduce losses of Phosphorus through erosion.
Phosphorus is usually lost along with the colloidal particles on whose surfaces it is absorbed. Soils rich in organic
matter contain abundant organic phosphorus. The low effective cation exchange capacity of these soils can be
attributed to the low level of organic matter, low clay content. The Total exchangeable acidity, calcium, potassium,
total exchangeable base, aluminum saturation were low in all land use types.
Jungerius (1964) observed that the organic matter content, Carbon/Nitrogen ratio and CEC are generally low in an
erosion site.
Land use practices affect the distribution and supply of soil nutrients by directly altering soil properties, chemical and
by influencing biological transformations in the rooting zone. Aweto & Ekiugbo (1994) observed that oil palms tend
to deplete soil nutrients due to long term nutrient immobilization in the trees and the harvesting of palm fruits which
constitute a drain on soil nutrient capital. Decline in soil quality with intensive land use is shown by the degradation of
soil physical and chemical proprieties. The cultivation of fallow land diminishes the soil carbon within a few years of
initial conversion and substantially lowers mineralisable of Nitrogen.
Lal and Shepherd et al. experienced that land use in tropical ecosystems could cause significant modifications in soil
properties. All the measured soil chemical properties varied under the influence of the land-use systems (Table 2).

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Table 1. Selected Physical Properties of Soil

Sample in Sand Clay Silt (CDR) CDI Silt/ Clay Sample Sand Silt Clay Silt/Clay Silt + BD MC TP
Water gkg-1 (%) .(%) Ratio in Calgon gkg-1 ratio Clay (g/cm3 (%) (%)
A1 822.4 68.0 109.8 95.50 4.60 1.6:1 A1 814.0 74.6 111.4 1.49 18.60 1.16 33.30 56.00
A2 862.4 57.6 80.0 72.80 6.31 1.4:1 A2 811.0 70.0 119.0 1.70 18.90 1.03 37.50 61.00
A3 842.4 67.8 90.0 87.60 5.30 1.3:1 A3 800.0 80.0 120.0 2.00 18.00 0.83 39.90 69.00
A4 832.4 59.6 108.0 93.00 4.90 2:1 A4 820.0 65.6 114.4 1.74 18.00 1.08 37.60 69.00
A5 862.4 17.6 120.0 76.00 6.30 7:1 A5 820.0 40.0 140.0 3.50 18.00 0.78 40.70 71.00
Means 844.4 54.1 101.5 84.98 4.42 2.59 Mean 820.2 66.0 121.0 2.08 18.30 0.98 37.80 63.20
B1 882.4 28.0 89.6 90.50 7.50 3.2:1 B1 870.0 35.4 94.6 2.67 13.00 0.94 39.90 68.00
B2 882.4 27.6 90.0 83.00 7.50 3.3:1 B2 858.4 31.6 110.0 3.48 14.16 0.86 26.20 64.00
B3 882.4 28.0 89.6 84.00 7.50 3.3:1 B3 860.0 40.0 100.0 2.50 14.00 0.95 31.90 74.00
B4 862.4 37.6 100.0 86.00 6.30 3.0:1 B4 840.0 50.0 110.0 2.20 16.00 0.68 38.80 60.00
B5 862.4 37.6 100.0 86.00 6.30 3.0:1 B5 840.0 50.0 110.0 2.20 16.00 1.06 36.30 62.00
Mean 874.0 31.8 93.8 85.90 7.02 3.00 Mean 854.0 41.4 104.9 2.61 14.63 0.90 34.62 65.60
C1 862.4 57.6 80.0 86.50 6.30 1.4:1 C1 841.0 64.6 94.4 1.46 15.90 1.01 37.80 62.00
C2 820.0 74.0 106.0 94.70 4.50 1.4:1 C2 810.0 76.0 114.0 1.50 19.00 1.08 31.40 59.00
C3 897.6 17.0 85.0 63.80 8.80 4.9:1 C3 840.0 50.0 110.0 2.20 16.00 1.04 35.70 61.00
C4 822.4 84.6 93.0 93.50 4.60 1.1:1 C4 810.0 90.0 100.0 1.10 19.00 1.03 31.40 61.00
C5 862.4 37.6 100.0 80.90 6.30 2.7:1 C5 830.0 50.0 120.0 2.40 17.00 1.30 25.50 51.00
Mean 853.0 54.2 92.8 83.90 6.10 2.30 Mean 824.2 56.9 108.9 1.73 17.38 1.09 32.36 58.80
LSD0.05 3.07 2.77 1.60 13.03 1.61 0.88 1.75 1.96 1.35 0.88 1.65 0.19 6.28 7.64

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 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 7(4):31-37
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Table 2: Selected chemical properties of soils in the study area

Sample pH pH ∂pH O.M T.N BS Ca/Mg C/N Av.P Ca Mg K Na ECEC TEA A1st TEB BS Ca/Mg

No. (H20) (KCl) (%) (%) (%) ratio ratio Mg/kg cmol/kg (%)

A1 4.71 4.12 0.59 2.24 0.05 53.12 0.11:1 25:1 2.96 0.10 0.91 0.01 0.01 1.92 0.90 0.42 1.02 53.12 0.11:1
A2 5.13 4.29 0.84 2.60 0.06 94.40 0.48:1 25:1 3.20 1.45 3.00 0.01 0.02 4.60 0.12 Trace 4.48 94.40 0.48:1
A3 4.69 4.11 0.58 2.60 0.06 34.00 0.63:1 26:1 2.80 0.05 0.08 0.01 0.02 0.47 0.13 0.20 0.16 34.00 0.63:1
A4 4.85 4.13 0.72 3.10 0.06 86.90 0.76:1 29:1 4.20 1.15 0.17 0.01 0.01 1.53 0.20 0.43 1.33 86.90 0.76:1
A5 5.03 4.14 0.89 3.30 0.70 88.70 0.79:1 27:1 3.90 0.85 1.08 0.01 0.02 2.21 0.25 0.40 1.96 88.70 0.79:1
Mean 4.88 4.16 0.72 2.77 0.174 72.02 0.55 26:1 3.41 0.72 0.72 0.01 0.02 2.15 0.36 0.29 1.79 72.02 0.55
B1 4.86 4.20 0.66 3.60 0.07 96.50 4.0:1 31:1 3.80 2.85 0.67 0.01 0.01 3.67 0.13 Trace 3.54 96.50 4.0:1
B2 5.02 4.65 0.37 3.60 0.07 97.80 1.04:1 28:1 5.20 4.75 4.58 0.02 0.02 9.59 0.21 Trace 9.38 97.80 1.04:1
B3 4.51 3.98 0.53 3.30 0.06 90.00 1.07:1 32:1 5.20 1.60 1.50 0.01 0.06 3.51 0.35 0.14 3.16 90.00 1.07:1
B4 4.51 3.98 0.63 3.60 0.07 93.60 0.44:1 30:1 2.90 1.06 2.40 0.02 0.03 3.75 0.24 0.35 3.51 93.60 0.44:1
B5 4.61 4.03 0.58 3.10 0.05 99.20 0.08:1 33:1 3.00 1.30 16.6 0.03 0.33 18.41 0.15 Trace 18.26 99.20 0.08:1
Means 4.61 4.17 0.55 3.44 0.064 95.42 1.34 31:1 3.60 2.31 5.15 0.02 0.09 7.79 0.22 0.09 7.57 95.42 1.34
C1 5.76 5.05 0.71 3.00 0.05 97.30 4.0:1 62:1 3.00 7.35 0.67 0.01 0.03 8.28 0.22 Trace 8.06 97.30 4.0:1
C2 4.60 4.11 0.49 2.24 0.04 92.74 5.29:1 62:1 1.96 0.90 0.17 0.01 0.06 1.24 0.22 0.24 1.15 92.74 5.29:1
C3 4.82 4.12 0.70 3.60 0.05 85.82 2.41:1 75:1 2.60 2.00 0.83 0.02 0.07 1.34 0.09 0.18 1.15 85.82 2.41:1
C4 4.78 4.11 0.67 3.50 0.05 93.37 0.55:1 70:1 2.81 1.20 2.17 0.04 0.05 3.62 0.20 0.14 3.38 93.37 0.55:1
C5 4.47 4.01 0.89 2.60 0.046 92.35 0.34:1 63:1 2.00 0.90 2.67 0.02 0.04 3.92 0.24 0.38 3.62 92.35 0.34:1
Mean 4.90 4.30 0.69 2.98 0.047 92.32 92.32 66:1 2.47 2.47 1.30 0.01 0.04 3.68 0.30 0.19 3.47 92.32 92.32
NS NS NS * NS ** NS ** ** ** NS NS ** NS NS ** **
LSD0.05 0.47 0.42 0.57 0.60 0.23 21.51 21.00 0.21 1.09 2.56 5.37 0.11 0.11 5.76 0.28 0.22 5.79 21.51 21.00
A= Fallow land, B= Oil palm groove, C= Cassava land, OM = Organic Matter, TN = Total Nitrogen, C/N = Carbon-Nitrogen ratio, Av. P = Available Phosphorous, ECEC = Effective Cation Exchange
Capacity, TEB = Total Exchangeable Bases, Alst = Aluminum Saturation, LSD = Least Significant Difference, NS = Non Significant, ∂pH=Delta pH

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Soil pH, total nitrogen, Organic carbon, available P, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Al, base saturation, Al saturation
and ECEC were significantly affected by the land-use systems. Under the oil palm plantation using the clay
dispersion index and clay dispersion ratio as an index for erodibility. The result shows that erosion is highest in that
land use. This could be as a result of exposure of the soil surface to heavy rain. It also has the highest sand fraction
and lowest clay fraction. Soil pH, exchangeable Al, organic matter, available P, base and Al saturations, exchangeable
Ca and ECEC significantly changed with the land-use systems. Relationship among soil properties are shown on
Table 3. Soil moisture in the fallow land had a positive correlation with bulk density of r=1.19 in the oil palm
plantation. There was also a positive correlation between pH and organic matter, pH and ECEC, pH and T.N, pH and
Avail. P with the values of r=0.05, r=0.86, r=0.82, r=0.24 respectively in the cassava dominated land use. pH was
positively correlated with organic matter in the fallow land r=0.004. pH also correlated positively with ECEC,
percentage TN, and negatively with Avail.P with the values r=0.048, r=0.42, r=0.42 and r=0.06 respectively. In the oil
palm plantation pH had a positive correlation with organic matter with values of r=0.08, it equally had a positive
correlation with percentage T.N r=0.08 and correlated positively with Avail.P with values of r=0.98.

Table 3: Relationship among soil properties parameters

Fallow land Oil Palm Groove Cassava land

r r2 R r2 r r2
pH vs. Avail P -0.06ns 0.004 0.98 **
0.95 0.24 ns 0.06
pH vs. TN -0.42 ns 0.18 0.08 ns 0.46 0.82 ** 0.67
pH vs. ECEC 0.05 ns 0.002 -0.08 ns 0.46 0.86 ** 0.74
pH vs. O.M 0.004 ns 0.0002 0.68 * 0.47 0.06 ns 0.003
OM vs ECEC 0.0005 ns 0.003 -0.08 ns 0.46 0.05 ns 0.002
OM vs CDI 0.99** 0.98 0.99 ** 0.98 0.97 ** 0.93
O.M vs CDR 0.98 ** 0.95 0.99 ** 0.98 0.96 ** 0.92
ECEC vs CDI 0.88 ** 0.77 0.82 ** 0.67 0.86 ** 0.71
ECEC vs CDR 0.81** 0.65 0.79 ** 0.64 0.83 ** 0.69
NS = Not significant, r = linear correlation coefficient, LSD = Least significant difference, ECEC = Effective cation exchange capacity, T.N. =
Total Nitrogen , OM = Organic matter, Avail P = Available Phosphorus, CDI = Clay dispersion Index , CDR = Clay Dispersion Ratio, **= Highly
significant, *=Significance

Relationship among erodibility indices CDR and CDI with selected soil properties are shown on Table 4. Clay-
dispersion ratio (CDR) as in DR is moderate to high. However, CDR had a negative non-significant relationship with
pH in KCl with a value of r = -0.27. There was a high level of significance between Clay dispersion ratio, Bulk
density, Available phosphorus, and Total porosity with values of r =.-0.99, 0.95 and 0.96 respectively. It also had a
non-significant relationship with total exchangeable acidity and Base saturation with values of r = 0.46 and 0.007
respectively. The Clay dispersion index on the other hand had a high positive correlation with Base saturation only
with a value of r=0.97; it equally correlated with pH moderately with a value of r= 0.68 and had a non-significant
relationship with Bulk density with a value of r= 0.01, Total exchangeable acidity had a value of r= 0.47, Base
saturation had a value of r= 0.97, Available phosphorus had a value of r= 0.44, and Total porosity had a value of
r=0.44.

Parameters
CDR CDI

pH KCl -0.27 ns 0.68*

BD -0.99** 0.01ns
TP 0.96** 0.44*
TEA 0.46* 0.47*
Avail P 0.95** 0.44*
BS 0.007ns 0.97**
O.M 0.98** 0.99**
ECEC 0.81** 0.88**
NS = Not significant, LSD = Least significant difference, ECEC = Effective cation exchange capacity, OM = Organic matter, BS= Base saturation,
BD= Bulk density, TEA=Total exchangeable acid, Avail P = Available Phosphorus, TEB=Total exchangeable base, CDI = Clay dispersion Index
CDR = Clay Dispersion Ratio, **= Highly significant, *=Significant

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CONCLUSION
The study investigated factors affecting erodibility of soils of Awo-omamma in Imo State to water as affected by land
us types namely fallow land, oil palm plantation and cassava were chosen for the study. The land use types served as
treatments and 5 samples (replicates) were collected from soils under each land use and the experiment was arranged
in a randomized complete block design. Soil samples were subjected to routine laboratory analyses. Variability
among soil properties were estimated using ANOVA and means were separated with LSD at 5% level of probability.
Two indirect measures (clay dispersion ratio and clay dispersion index) were used in accessing erodibility of studied
soils. Results of some physical and chemical properties were related to soil erodibility using correlation coefficient.
The erodibilty varied among the land use types. The susceptibility was highest in fallow land, cassava and lest in oil
palm groove .Results showed that erodibilty was related to percentage sand, silt ,clay, organic matter, total porosity,
soil pH, ECEC, clay dispersion index and ratio. Based on this study, soils of Imo state of Imo state erodible and were
mostly affected by over grazing, slash and burning practices and sand mining. This therefore calls for public
enlightenment programme on erosion and need to adopt environmental friendly land use and management practice to
the rural dwellers with the help of the local government, chairman, the traditional rulers, the village heads and the
youth. Also since it have been observed that oil palms tend to deplete soil nutrients due to long term nutrient
immobilization in the trees and the harvesting of palm fruits which constitute a drain on soil nutrient capital. It is
recommended that other tree species especially those that improve soil fertility into farmlands be integrated in order to
enhance sustainability in the long run. The tree such as Albizia adianthifolia, has been reported to improve soil
organic matter, exchangeable calcium, magnesium, cation exchange capacity and available phosphorus of soil under
its canopy. This will help ensure landscape stability and productivity.

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