EFFECTS OF SOME SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES ON INFILTRATION RATE AT PHASE 2B OF LAKE GERIYO IRRIGATION PROJECT, YOLA, NIGERIA
The problem of water logging and drainage conditions can partly be solved by understanding the infiltration characteristics. Infiltration rate of the selected areas were determined using a double ring infiltrometer and soil samples collected at different depths of 0 to 15 and 15 to 30 cm respectively for a good representation of the surrounding soil. Collected samples were analyzed to determine Moisture content by gravimetric method, Particles size distribution by hydrometer analysis and Bulk density using core sampler method respectively. Moisture content for points A to E ranged between19.15% to 53.85%. The textural classification of the soil indicated that the soil type in point A to E is mainly loamy sand. The bulk density of the soil is found to range between 1.58 g/cm3 and 1.73 g/cm3. The infiltration analysis shows that; Point A has a steady infiltration rate of 1.70mm/hr and a cumulative infiltration of 122.81 mm. Point B had a steady infiltration rate of 1.62 mm/hr and a cumulative infiltration of 101.39 mm. At point C the steady infiltration rate is 1.08 mm/hr and the cumulative infiltration is 134.66 mm. Points D and E have steady infiltration rate range of 1.83 mm/hr to 1.88 mm/hr and a cumulative infiltration range of 97.30 mm to 108.04 mm respectively. The correlation analysis done shows that there is a positive correlation between soil texture and infiltration r = 0.705 and between bulk density and infiltration r = 0.743, while there is a negative correlation between moisture content and infiltration r = -0.433. It is therefore concluded that soil texture and bulk density have positive effect on infiltration while moisture content have a negative effect on infiltration rate. Crops like maize should be cultivated in areas with moderate infiltration, while crops like rice to be cultivated in the areas with low infiltration.
Authors : Umaru, A. B., Tya, T. S. K., Musa, M. M. and Vanke, I.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 7(1) Date Uploaded : 14th June 2021