Soil loss is as a result of detachment and transportation of soil particles from one place to another due to rainfall. The rate of soil erosion has been of great concern to the government and people of Imo state as regards to farm land and environmental degradation. This work analyzed the soil samples collected from two erosion sites namely, nNkede and Akaokwa all in Imo State and the soil loss for the samples which is the mainstay of this project was determined using a rainfall simulator. It was observed that Nekede recorded the highest soil loss of 190.3g and Akaokwa with a soil loss of 178.0g both at 9% slope. In terms of steepness of slope, Nekede has the steepest slope of 1/253.3 which led to a greater volume of run off and resulted to the highest soil loss. Recommendations were made on how best to reduce soil loss in Imo state.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover page - - - - - - - i

Title page - - - - - - - - ii

Approval page - - - - - - - - iii

Dedication - - - - - - - - iv

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - v

List of tables - - - - - - - - vi

Abstract - - - - - - - - - vii

Table of contents - - - - - - - viii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION - - - - - - 1

1.1 Background of the Study - - - - 1

1.2 Specifically the Objectives of the study are - 5

1.3 Justification of the Study - - - - 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW - - - - 7

2.1 Definition of Erosion - - - - - 7

2.2 Water Erosion - - - - - - - 11

2.3 Raindrop Erosion or Splash Process - - 12

2.4 Surface Flow Erosion Process - - - - 24

2.4.1Sheet Erosion - - - - - - 16

2.4.2Interill Erosion - - - - - 16

2.5 Gully Erosion - - - - - - - 17

2.6 Factors Affecting Soil Erosion - - - 18

2.6.1 Erodibility - - - - - - 19

2.6.2 Erosivity- - -- - - - - 21

2.6.3Topography - - - - - - 22

2.7 Soil conservation - - - - - - 22

2.8 Approaches to soil conservation - - - 24

2.9 Soil Stability - - - - - - - 25

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODLOGY - - - 27

3.1 Area of study - - - - - - - 27

3.2 Materials Used - - - - - - 28

3.3 Soil Test - - - - - - - - 29

3.3.1 Plastic Limit - - - - - - 30

3.3.2 Liquid Limit - - - - - - 33

3.3.3 Grain Size Analysis - - - - - 36

3.3.4 Moisture Content - - - - - 40

3.3.5 Shear Strength- - - - - - 42

3.4 Soil Loss Determination - - - - - 47

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION - - - - 56

4.1 Results - - - - - - - - 56

4.2 Discussion - - - - - - - 56

4.2.1Erodibility Determination - - - 58

4.2.2Precipitation - - - - - - 61

4.2.3Relating Slope To Erosion - - - - 62

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION - 63

5.1 Conclusion - - - - - - - 63

5.2 Recommendation - - - - - - 64

References - - - - - - - 66

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Soil is the naturally occurring, unconsolidated or loose covering or broken rock particles and decaying organic matter on the surface of the earth, capable of supporting life. Soil is also known as earth; it is the substance from which our planet takes its name. it consists of sand, clay, sit and organic matters. The important of foil is too many to mention. For instance, the life we are living today depend on soil. Soil is a critical component in the mining and construction industries. Soil serves as a foundation for most construction projects. Massive volumes of soil can be involved in surface mining, road construction, and construction of other structures. Soil is critical to the environment, as well as food and fiber production. Soil provides plants with minerals and water. Soil absorbs rainwater and releases through evaporation preventing and controlling both flood and drought respectively. Soil is also the natural dwelling place for earth micro and macro organisms. Also houses water for mans use.

Today, one of the most serious environmental problems facing our nation and the world on general is the loss of top soil layer through the process of detachment and transportation caused by the impact of raindrop and the resulting overland flow. Soil erosion is the process by which the surface of the land is attacked, resulting to gullies, in valleys, cliffs and hills and it is completely washed into water bodies. It is composed of many factors the most basic if it is the soils and rainfall factors which is a function of intensity, duration, infiltration, susceptibility including soil detachability and transportability.