Land Degradation Assessment

This project was undertaken to assess the level of land degradation of the soils of the University of Agriculture Makurdi Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) farm, being part of the research farms of the institution where scientific methods of farming is practiced. However, poor results and unintended variability in the crop yields necessitated the investigation. The physical and chemical properties of the soils were evaluated in the laboratory and the results obtained were compared with the standard indicators and criteria for land degradation assessment as given by the FAO (1979). The results indicated different levels of physical, chemical and biological land degradation. Several factors that resulted to this observed degradation were outlined, discussed and recommendations were made so as to manage the degraded soils and also prevent further degradation.