soil erosion on agricultural production On Arable Agricultural Production In Asaba And It’s Environs

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Effect of soil erosion on agricultural production On Arable Agricultural Production In Asaba And It’s Environs

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.

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Effect of soil erosion on agricultural production On Arable Agricultural Production In Asaba And It’s Environs