SOIL ERODIBILITY INDICES ALONG RIVER BENUE BANKS AT MAKURDI, NIGERIA.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2025-0912-4394Keywords:
Soil, River bank, erodibility factor, Erosion, infiltration rateAbstract
Soil erosion along riverbanks is a major environmental challenge in Nigeria, particularly in Makurdi where the River Benue predisposes surrounding soils to degradation due to high rainfall, runoff, and fragile soil conditions. Understanding soil erodibility is crucial for predicting erosion rates and designing effective conservation measures. This study was conducted to determine the erodibility factor (K) of soils at different locations along the River Benue bank at Makurdi and to assess variations in soil erodibility within the study area. Six locations along the bank behind Benue state university were selected and named as location 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Samples were collected at 30 and 60cm soil depth at each location to represent the crop root zone of the area. Particle size determination was carried out and hydrometer test to determine the various particle size distribution of soils in various location. The analysis of result showed that the erodibility factor (K) of soils varies with locations. The average k-values for the different locations were: 6.35 at 30cm;4.68 at 60cm soil depths for Location 1 respectively. At Location 2, at 30cm soil depth 7.6, at 60cm soil depth was 5.4, Location 3, at 30cm soil depth was 16.9; at 60cm soil depth 12.2, Location 4, 30cm soil depth was 9.42,at 60cm soil depth was 12.2, Location 5, at 30cm was 7.6, at 60cm soil depth was 6.35, Location 6 at 30cm soil depth was 9.42, at 60cm soil depth was 7.93 respectively.
References
Agassi, M and Bradford, J.M. (1999).Methodologies for Interill.Soil Erosion Studies. Soil and Tillage
Research. (49)4: 277 - 87.
Agbai,W.P.,Efenudu,U.I.,Kosuowei,M.T.and Ehigiator, E.F.(2021).Determination of Soil
Erodibility Status under Different Land-Use Types Using Some Erodibility Indices: A
Case of Yenagoa and Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. EJES& M
15(2): 201 – 214. doi: https://ejesm.org/ doi/ v15i 2.6
Bouyoucos, G.J. (1935). The Clay ratio as a Criterion of Susceptibility of Soils to Erosion. JASA. 27(9):
738 – 741
Combeau, A. and Monnier, G. (1961). A Method of Study for Structural Stability Application to Tropical
Soils, African Soils. 1: 33 – 51.
Czatzkowska,M.,Wolak,I.,Harnisz,M.,andKorzeniewska,E.(2022).Impactofanthropogenic activi-
ties on the dissemination of ARGs in the environment—A review. IJERPH19(19), 12853.
https://doi.org/10.3 390/ijerph1919 12853
Davarpanah,S.M.,Narimani,S.,Sharghi,M.,andVásárhelyi,B.(2025).Introducing coefficients of
curvature (Cc) and uniformity (Cu) based on RQD for rock mass characterization.Rock
Mechani- cs Letters, 2(1), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.70425/rml.202501.10
17
Debashis, S.(2023).Eroded Soil. https://www.researchgate.net/publ/374229013/ Eroded/Soil .
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25451.52002
Dey,S.,and Mandal,S.(2022).Riverbank erosion hazards and channel morphodynamics:A perspe-
pective of fluvial geomorphology (1st ed.). Routledge India. https://doi.org/ 10.4324/978
10032 76685
Dominic, I.W. Benjamin, Y.(2023). Flood and Food Security in the Benue Valley Stylized Facts.
AJSMS, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2023, pages 318-337 https://doi.org/ 10.53982/ajsms. 2023.0402.
09-j
Emeka-chris,C.C. (2014). Determination of Erodibility Index (K) Of Soil in Michael Okpara
University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Evans, R.(1980): Mechanics of water erosion and their spatial and temporal controls. An empirical
viewpoint. In: M. J. Kirkby and R.P.C. Morgan (eds.) Soil ErosionChichester, Wiley: 109-28.
Soil Resources Reports 84, FAO, Rome.
Imeson,A.(2020).Geomorphological processes,soil structure,and ecology.In Soil Erosion and
Conservation:EcologicalandHydrologicalConsequences(pp.71–88).Routledge.https://doi.
.org /10. 4324/9780429274923-5.
Iorkpiligh, I. T., Maakura, K. K., Aondoakaa, D. A., Agbo, C., & Igbum, G. O. (2025).
Assessment of The Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Concentrations of
Soils around Hostels in Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria. Fudma Journal of
Sciences, 9(12), 132137.https:// doi.org/ 10.33003/fjs- 2025-0912-3987 .
Juriga,M.,and Šimanský,V.(2018).Effect of biochar on soil structure – review.Acta Fytotechnica
Zootechnica,21(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.15414/AFZ.2018.21.01.11-19
Kalore,S.A.,and Sivakumar,B.G.L.(2023).Significance of Cu and Cc inEvaluatingInternal stabili-
ty with application to design of subbase gradation in pavements.TransportationGeotechni
cs, 40,Article 100972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2023 .100972
Kanwar, H.,Ghanshyam, and Roy,T.(2025).Recent advances in assessment of soil erodibility: A
comprehensive review.IJSC,52(3), 176. https://doi.org/10.59797/ijsc.v52.i3.176
Konsoer,K.M.,Rhoads,B.L.,Langendoen, E.J.,Best, J.L.,Ursic,M.E.,Abad,J.D.,and Garcia,M.H.
(2016).Spatial variability in bank resistance to erosion on a large meandering, mixed
bedrock-alluvial river.Geomorphology,252,80-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.
2015.08.002
Lei,T.W. Zhang, Q.W.Zhao,J., Xia,W.S. Pan,Y.H.(2002).Soil Detachment Rates for Sediment
Loaded Flow in Rills. ASAE 45(6). DOI: 10.13031/2013.11440
McKague,K. and Eng,P.(2024). Soil Erosion -Causes and Effects. https://www.ontario.ca
/files/2024-05/omafra-soil-erosion-24-019-en-28-05-2024-v1
18
Mikolai,M.,Aleksandra, C.,and Marcinak,M.(2023).Impact of rainfall intensity on soil erosion
based on experimental research.Landform Analysis 42: 25-36. DOI: 10.12657/landfana-
042-002.
Morgan, R.P.C. (2001). A simple approach to soil loss prediction: a revised Morgan-Morgan-Finney
model. Catena 44(4): 305-22.
Nahib,I.,Wahyudin,Y.,Amhar, F.,Ambarwulan,W.,Nugroho,N.P.,Pranoto,B.,Cahyana,D.,Ramad
hani,F.,Suwedi,N.,Darmawan,M.,Turmudi,T.,Suryanta,J.,andKarolinoerita,V.(2024).Anal
lysis of factors influencing spatial distribution of soil erosion under diverse subwater shed
based on geospatial perspective:Acase study at CitarumWatershed,WestJava,Indonesia.
Scientifica,Article 7251691. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/ 7251691
NRCCA (Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser),(2019). Soil and Water Management – Study Guide.
Soil and Water Management. https://www.Certifiedcropadviser. org/files/certified cropadviser/
northeast-region-performance-objectives .
Okoro A.C.,Orakwe L.C.,Nwachukwu C.P.,Ugwu, E.I.,Nzekwe. C.A.,Nwanna E.C and Nzekwe
M.I(2022).Erodibility index of soils along Ezeagu-Umulokpa road, Enugu State.JEAS,
Vol. (1).
Parwada , C. Tol , J. and Mandumbu ,R.(2020).Characterisation of soil physical properties and
resistance to erosion in different areas of soil associations. https://www.semanticscholar.
org/paper// a68a9ff0ba0c6a1dfcacd6eadf68135d7a5a6532
Philippe,P.,and Benahmed,N.(2024).Quantifying soil surface erosion.Comptes RendusPhysique
Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.5802/crphys.225
Relf, D.(2001).Reducing Erosion and Runoff. Virginia Co-operative Extension, PublicationNo.426–
722, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blackburg, VA USA.
Renard, K.G.,Foster, G.R.,Weesies,G. A.,McCool, D.K.,and Yoder,D.C., (1997), Predicting Soil Erosion
by water: A guide to Conservation Planning with the Revised Universal Soil loss equation (RUSL
E). USDA, Agriculture Handbook No.703, Washington DC.
Rubianca,B.,Bethanna,J.,Maxwell D.,and Norton,K.(2018).A review of the (Revised) Universal
Soil Loss Equation (R/USLE): with a view to increasing its global applicability and
improving soil loss estimates.
Saadon, A.,Ariffin, J.,Abdullah, J.,and Daud,N.M.(2016).Dimensional analysis relationships of
streambank erosion rates. JTSE),78(5-5),79–85. https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v78.8580
Shafii,I.,Briaud,J.,Chen,H.,and Shidlovskaya,A.(2016).Relationship between soil erodibility and
engineering properties. In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Scour and
Erosion (pp.1055–1060).CRCPress.https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315375045-134
19
Sowiński,P.,Smólczyński,S.,Orzechowski,M.,Kalisz,B.,andBieniek,A.(2023).Effect of soil agric-
ultural use on particle-size distribution in young glacial landscape slopes.Agriculture,13(
3),584. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030584
SSSA(Soil Science Society of America) (2008). Defining Soil Quality for a Sustainable Environment.
Soil Science Society of America. Special Publication 35. SSSA-ASA,Madison, Wisconsin. USA.
Stresser,C.,and de Brum,P.,L.(2023).Soil erodibility rates through a hydraulic flume erosometer:
Test assembly and results in sandy and clayey soils.OJCE,13(1),155–170. https://doi.org
/10.4236 /ojce.2023.131011
Umi,M.A.,Sholihah , N.P .,and Fathi,A.R .(2023).Soil Erodibility:Influencing Factors and Its
Relation to Soil Fertility in Nawungan, Selopamioro, Bantul Regency.
USDA(2022).Soil Quality Indicators: Soil Structure Macropores. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
sites/default/files/2022-10/Soil Structure and Macropores.
Wandra, A.(2021).Soil Erosion - Causes, Effects, and Prevention .IJAEB, Vol. 06, No. 06.
https://doi.org/10.35410/ IJAEB.2021.5696
Wawer, R. Nowocieñ, E. Podolski,B.(2005).Real and Calculated K-USLE Erodibility Factor for
Selected Polish Soils. PJES Vol. 14, No 5 (2005), 655-658.
Wischmeier,W.H.,and Smith,D.D(1978).Predicting rainfall erosion losses.Agriculture Handbook
No. 537, (537), 285–291. http://doi.org/10.1029/TR039i002p00285
Xinyu, Z., Shouhong, Z., Fan, Z., Jingyi, S., and Jingqiu, C. (2025). Rainfall amount shapes the
soil erosion and vegetation protection effectiveness in soil conservation. Journal of
Hydrology, Vol. 633.Part A. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134219
Xunchang,J.Z .(2023).Roles of raindrop impact in detachment and transport processes of interrill
soil erosion.ISWCR,Vol.(11), PP591-601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2022.11.001
Yang,X.,Gray,J.,Chapman,C.,Zhu,Q.,Tulau,M.,and McInnes-Clarke,S.(2017).Digital mapping of
soil erodibility for water erosion in New South Wales,Australia.SoilResearch,56(2)158
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Japhet Flayin Malum, Ejike Colins Eze, Izuchukwu John Okafor
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
