ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of gully erosion on soil physical properties in three Local Government Areas of Abia State being lsuikwuato, Ohafia and lkwuano LGAs. The experiment was a 3x3x2 split plot in a • Completely Randomized Design (CR0) with 3LGAs of soil condition (eroded and non eroded) and 3 sampling positions on each gully (top, middle and bottom) with 3 replications. Soil samples were collected from the three positions each of gully profiles (Top, middle and bottom) using core samplers and a spade for gully eroded soils while non eroded soils in each vicinity served as a control. Result location comparisons showed that sand proportion in lsuikwuato and Ohafia was not significantly different but were significantly (P

<0.05) higher than lkwuano soils. On the other hand, clay proportion in lkwuano soil was significantly (P><0.05) higher than lsuikwuato and Ohafia soils. Erosion had no significant effect on silt proportion among the three locations in calgon and water respectively. Bulk density, percentage clay flocculation index and percentage aggregate silt and clay were significantly affected by erosion in eroded and non eroded soil. Meanwhile, Aggregate stability was significantly reduced by erosion being (6.61 and 5.40). Bulk density, total porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, clay dispersion ratio, percentage clay dispersion index and aggregate silt and clay was not significantly different from the top to the bottom of the gully. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was not significantly affected by erosion when gully and non gully eroded areas were compared. >