Mitigating soil erosion challenges through strategic land management in a region of Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is an assessment of the roles of different land use types in controlling erosion rates in some parts of
Kwara State. To accomplish this philosophy, data were therefore collected on individual rainfall characteristics, depth
of erosion on each land use type and percentage plant covers on land use basis too. These data were then processed
using both descriptive and regression techniques of analyses. The following therefore constitutes as the results
observed as follows: (i) The components of rainfall total are very important in explaining and the prediction the rate of
erosion on all land use types and subsequently the desired management types. (ii) The land use types studied
respond differently to the forces of individual rainfall events, each land use type therefore requires a distinct
management technique. (iii) Land use types covered by grasses to about 95% do not suffer any serious erosion
attack. Similarly, undergrowth of grasses should be encouraged under the trees. This is because; grasses have the
potential to break the powers of rainfall at ground level. However, tree covered land use type accelerate the incidents
of erosion which is at variance with the traditional beliefs of checking erosion with it.