ABSTRACT
Soil erosion is recognized as one of the world’s most
serious environmental problems (Pimentel et al 1995, Shiferaw and Holden,
1999). Globally, about 80% of the current degradation of agricultural land is
caused by soil erosion.In most developing countries, including Nigeria, human
activity triggers these losses this is associated with rapid population growth,
inadequate attention to the basic natural resources S.W.V (soils, water and
vegetation), and the need to maximize production to meet the needs of the
growing population This situation is more serious in poor developing countries
like Nigeria where subsistence
production predominates. Soil is one of the natural resources on Planet Earth.
Though soil is a renewable natural resource, yet it can become finite, with the
passage of time, through its degradation. In Nigeria soil erosion is a problem
and there are several causes for this. These causes are in fact various factors
as a result of which soil erosion takes place. Some of the contributing factors
are certain agricultural practices of conventional agriculture and
environmental problems. There is a universal acceptance that such agricultural
practices degrade the soil. This study deliberate to explore the prevention of
soil erosion problems and damage of the environmental component such as the
effects of agricultural production and land degradation that soil erosion
caused in asaba, Delta state. The main objective of this study is to know the
possible cause and effect of soil erosion on agricultural production in asaba,
delta state. And to be sought further in this study was be as follows:The aim
of this thesis is to have clear understanding the cause and effect of soil
erosion on agricultural production from the environment and the necessity to
implement conservation measures in the study area.
The study is carried out in asaba which is located in delta
state.The study was used a descriptive co-relational design; the study also was
used a cross sectional, comparative and ex-post facto designs. Descriptive in
that data collected was used to describe a phenomenon; co-relational in that it
was interested in relating cause and effect of soil erosion on agricultural
production in asaba, delta state.
Both soil causes and effect of soil are major drivers of land
degradation and pose key problems to livelihoods of the community members in
the study area. Sheet, rill and gully erosion are the main types of erosion
within the study area and the latter form of erosion, namely gully erosion, is
the most alarming problem removing huge quantities of soil, dissecting land and
damaging infrastructure.
Deterioration in soil fertility as a result of severe soil
erosion is a critical deterrent to crop production and a lack of fodder has
been a major factor in the decline in agricultural production. As charcoal is
the major source of energy for cooking in the study area, deforestation has
seriously depleted forest resources. This has compelled community members to
travel long distances and spending significant amount of time for collection of
wood.
Chapter One:
1.0 Introduction
Introduction In total there are five chapters: The First
Chapter provides an overview of the background, the problem area identified,
the problem formulation question, the research question and the
objectives. The Second Chapter discusses
review of related literature and third chapter methodology chapter four
presentations Analysis and Interpretation of Data chapter five findings
conclusion, Recommendation
1.1 Background of
the study
Soil erosion is recognized as one of the world’s most
serious environmental problems (Pimentel et al 1995, Shiferaw and Holden,
1999). Globally, about 80% of the current degradation of agricultural land is
caused by soil erosion. Erosion by water, at a global scale, is the main soil
degradation process in agricultural areas It generates strong environmental
impacts and major economic losses from decreased agricultural production and
from off-site effects on infrastructure and water quality by sedimentation processes
Soil erosion creates severe limitations to sustainable agricultural land use,
as it reduces on-farm soil productivity and causes food insecurity.
In most developing countries, including Nigeria, human
activity triggers these losses this is associated with rapid population growth,
inadequate attention to the basic natural resources S.W.V (soils, water and
vegetation), and the need to maximize production to meet the needs of the
growing population This situation is more serious in poor developing countries
like Nigeria where subsistence
production predominates. The Asaba environment, is nowadays dependent on
natural conditions and cannot tolerate further deterioration of soil
productivity Increasing urbanization, intense land cultivation, uncontrolled grazing,
and deforestation often lead to, or exacerbate, soil erosion These factors
undermine agricultural productivity and frustrate economic development efforts,
especially in developing countries where there is heavy land dependence in low
external-input farming systems Nigeria has a total surface area of 137,600
sq . However, whilst soil erosion is a
feature of any natural Ecosystem, the rate at which it is taking place has been
significantly accelerated by anthropogenic influences.
Soil erosion in the Areas has increased markedly in recent
decades the impacts of soil erosion have major implications for society from an
economic, social and, environmental perspective. In terms of ecological service provision,
soil performs many, ecological functions including nutrient cycling, regulating
water and nutrient flows, filtering toxic compounds, providing a medium for
plant roots and supporting the growth of a variety of animals and soil
microorganisms by providing a diverse physical, chemical and biological habitat.
As such, it is a vital natural resource and forms a key building block upon
which life on earth depends. In economic terms, soil erosion inflicts
significant costs on society as the ecological services we derive from soil
have an economic value; as soil is eroded, the economic value we are able to
derive from it is diminished. The financial implications of soil erosion do not
stop here. For example, soil erosion can transmit pollutants into water which
have to be removed through costly processes. Eroded soil often needs to be
removed from roads, reservoirs and estuaries which again can involve
considerable costs to society.
Soil is a precious natural resource and in Nigeria
especially this study Area asaba there is an ever increasing awareness of the
declining soil quality. To inhibit this decline, soil conservation has been
given due consideration in organic farming in the asaba village.
To conserve means ‘to protect from loss and harm’. Hence
soil conservation means to protect the soil from both loss and harm. ‘Soil
Loss’ and ‘Soil Harm’ are two different unique terms/categories, with reference
to soil degradation, that have been introduced separately (in this thesis).
Soil Loss implies soil degradation that occurs naturally e.g. erosion and other
factors are responsible for the loss of soil. Soil Loss can occur in the three
basic dimensions of loss, i.e. physical, chemical and biological. Conversely,
Soil Harm implies soil degradation that is anthropogenic in nature, i.e.
induced by mankind e.g. chemicals and mechanics are responsible for the harm of
the soil. Physical, chemical and biological dimensions of harm can take place
in Soil Harm. With this background, organic farming practices propagate soil
conservation by reducing both Soil Loss and Soil Harm.
As manifested from experience that soil harm has been
pre-dominantly higher as C S L Compared to soil loss. The harm or damage to the
soil caused by human induced activities is ever increasing due to factors like
conventional agricultural practices, urbanization, Industrialization,
increasing population, etc. Some of the problems of both soil loss and Soil
harm are irreversible, e.g. soil erosion (whether it occurs naturally or as
human Induced) Whereas, other problems
of both soil loss and soil harm can be dealt with and Improved with specialized
tactics and measures, e.g. soil leaching can be improved with crop rotations of
legumes and catch crops; soil contamination can be alleviated with remediation
procedures; etc.
Here the soil management practices play a vital role in the
Soil conservation.
The pressure on arable land is growing and this forces
people to convert more marginal, available forest and grazing lands to arable
lands. Hence, forest resources are very few and continuously decreasing both in
quantity and quality. These results in firewood shortage and people are forced
to use animal dung as a fuel wood substitute. The major source of organic
matter is thus not brought back to the soil but used further purposes. Soil
erosion is the most significant ecological restriction to sustainable
agricultural production, mainly under subsistence agricultural production
system like west of Delta state including this Area asaba.