Runoff, Soil Loss and Nutrient Losses from an Agricultural Field in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess runoff, soil loss and nutrient losses from an agricultural field during 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons in Makurdi area of Benue State, Nigeria using erosion plots under natural rainfall. Soil management practices namely, bare fallow (control), 4 and 8 t/ha mulched maize, maize + cowpea and unmulched maize were replicated three times. Runoff, soil loss and nutrient loss values indicated significant (p<0.05) differences among the treatments. Higher losses of runoff, soil, nutrients and lower infiltration rates were observed under the bare fallow plots followed by unmulched maize treated plots compared to the cover management treated plots. Lower values of losses and higher infiltration rates were noticed under 8 t/ha mulched maize management. The values of runoff varied from 1.4 to 127.02 mm and soil loss from 0 to 31.8 t/ha/yr during the two cropping seasons. The higher soil loss values of 31.8 t/ha/yr and 13.9 t/ha/yr in 2015 and 2016 respectively obtained under the bare fallow plots were beyond the tolerable limit. Correlation analysis between runoff and soil loss was significantly correlated (p<0.01), while runoff and nutrient losses were not significantly correlated. There was significant correlation (p<0.05) between soil loss and nutrients losses.