Comparative Assessment of Splash Erosion Measuring Devices in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State

Abstract

Soil erosion is recognized as a global threat against the sustainability of the natural ecosystem and the environment because of its severe effects in agricultural productivity, damage to infrastructure and pollution of water bodies.  This study aims to compare the splash erosion on open field using Morgan and splash board method.  The fabrication of the splash cups and splash board was carried based on the principles of the already existing devices in literature and in the department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology Auchi Polytechnic Auchi. The rainstorm depth ranged from 7 to 81 mm and the computed KE obtained ranged from 294 to 3233.4 J/m². A total of 15 rainfall events were used in the season.  For site A the amount of soil splashed per rainfall event ranged from 0.02 g/m² to 4.77 g/m² and zero (no splash) to 2.39 g/m² for Morgan cup and Splash board device respectively. Studies of splash erosion on cultivated land should be made to determine the effect of cultivation on the soil in the area.

Keywords: Morgan’s Splash cup, splash board, kinetic energy, soil erosion, splash erosion, rainstorm

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/11-4-06

Publication date: April 30^th 2021