EFFECTS OF INCORPORATING 2 ORGANIC MATERIALS AT VARYING LEVELS ON SPLASH DETACHMENT OF SOME SOILS FROM BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Splash detachment by raindrops was measured using a factorial experime nt involving three soils (sandy loam, clay loam and clay) and two orga nic materials (cow dung and groundnut haulms) applied at five levels ( 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 per cent by mass). A simulated rainfall intensity of 145 mm h-1 for 10 min duration was used for the tests. Detachment was described in terms of the direct effects and the first and second orde r interactions of the variables mentioned above. Results indicated tha t mean splash detachment was reduced significantly (P < 0.01) from 1.9 7 kg m-2 in the sandy loam to 0-67 kg m-2 in the clay soil. For each s oil type, detachment was reduced significantly (P < 0.01) with increas ing levels of added organic matter. Groundnut haulms produced lower va lues of detachment than cow dung. There were also significant interact ion effects between the study variables. These interactions were used to describe the effect of added organic materials on splash detachment . For each soil type and organic material, negative exponential relati onships were established to relate splash detachment to levels of adde d organic matter.