A Comparative Analysis of Soil Erosion Models for Tropical Humid of Southeastern Nigeria and Comparable Environments

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Dominic Chukwuka Ndulue, Romanus U. Ayadiuno, Arinze Tagbo Mozie, Cosmas C. Ndichie

Abstract

The variables of soil erosion in tropical humid of Southeastern Nigeria were observed and measured in forty–two locations in Southeastern Nigeria. The data obtained were subsequently analyzed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to search for the correlation and relationships between and among the variables. The variables are Elevation (X1), Total annual rainfall (X2), Duration of rainfall (X3), Population density (X4), Mean slope angle (X5), Slope length (X6), Percentage vegetation cover (X7), % clay (X8), % silt (X9), % fine sand (X10), % coarse sand, (X11) % moisture (X12), % Area of roof  top cover (X13) and Rates  of gully side expansion (Y). The correlation coefficients were computed using the Statistical Package for the Social Scientist (SPSS) software version 16. While the topography of the mapped study area as was presented in a three dimensional digital elevation model. The model was created in an ArcGIS software. The calculated correlation coefficients revealed significant relationships between some pairs of erosion variables and their directions. A soil erosion model for the tropical humid environments of the world based on the revealed relationships between the variables was developed and presented for the control and remediation of soil erosion damage in the tropical humid of Southeastern Nigeria and other environments having comparable characteristics as Southeastern Nigeria.


 

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