Soils and Its Degradation Status in Ochobo, Ohimini Area of Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Soil characterization studies are an important building block to understand soil, classify it and get the best understanding of the environment. The extent of soil degradation in Nigeria for effective environmental management has been most felt in recent times as the trend of environmental degradation is increasing, which necessitated an assessment. The assessment took into consideration the characteristics of vegetation degradation and soil contamination that lead to soil degradation. In 2020, the assessment was carried out in Ohimini area of Benue State. The conventional method was used to assess the degree of soil degradation in the study area. The physical and chemical properties of the soils were examined in the laboratory and the results were compared with the standard indicators and criteria for assessing soil degradation. The laboratory results showed that most of the eroded parts of the study areas were highly degraded compared to the soils under vegetative growth. Considering the study results, the studied soils differed significantly in their physico-chemical properties, highlighting the need to characterize the soils before initiating soil fertility management strategies and practices for improved sustainable agricultural production. The widespread removal of natural vegetation as a result of human activities such as farming, logging and mining which encouraged fertility erosion was identified as the main type of degradation in the areas. Restoration efforts should be directed to areas of severely degraded land and also to areas that are not at high risk to lessen the overall effect of degradation in the area.