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Variations in soils derived from an erodible sandstone formation and factors controlling their susceptibility to erosion and landslide

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Environmental degradations caused by erosion and landslide within an area in the South-eastern part of Nigeria were assessed, and also an attempt to characterize the underlying soils based on their degree of susceptibility to erosion and landslide. Factors affecting soil erodibility such as physical and chemical properties of soil, as well as vegetation density and slope gradient was determined in 20 different areas. Simple linear regression and principal component analysis were employed to relate the factors controlling erosion and landslide to the erosion and slide densities, and to determine the pattern that exists in the data and as well express the data in such a way as to highlight their similarities and differences. Four vertical horizons and two horizontal zones of soil were distinguished based on their degree of weathering as well as their chemical and mineralogical composition; hence the soils were classified into six different types based on their degree of susceptibility to erosion and landslide. Variations in their degree of susceptibility to erosion and landslide were majorly controlled by its chemical and mineralogical composition rather than its particle size distribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Chukwuebuka Emeh & Ogbonnaya Igwe

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  1. Chukwuebuka Emeh
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  2. Ogbonnaya Igwe
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Emeh, C., Igwe, O. Variations in soils derived from an erodible sandstone formation and factors controlling their susceptibility to erosion and landslide. J Geol Soc India 90, 362–370 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0725-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0725-5

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