EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING SOIL EROSION: STUDY OF THE ROUNDABOUT FIELD IN AKANU IBIAM FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, UNWANA

Abstract

The target of this research is to unravel the effective strategies for mitigating the environmental threat of soil erosion.  In the fight against environmental degradation and harmful effects of greenhouse gas emission, the negative impact emanating from soil erosion cannot be overlooked hence the global call for environmental sustainability.  The gradual displacement of topsoil and the attendant creation of rills and possible gullies have located itself within the largest roundabout in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana. This research is an investigation into the strategies effective for the curbing of this menace as it affects the school’s largest traffic cycle.  The study adopted structured questionnaire as the tool for eliciting primary data from respondents on control of soil erosion (CSE) as the dependent variable and control of soil erosion with the use of: trees (CUT), shrubs (CUS), and granites (CUG) as the independent variables. From the population of 2,000 staff of the Polytechnic a sample size of 333 was drawn using Taro Yamane’s formula.  Three hundred and thirty-two (332) of the 333 administered questionnaires were duly completed, returned, and coded to make the responses amenable for econometric use.  The Ordinary Least Square method results revealed that the three explanatory variables have significant relationships with control of soil erosion individually and collectively.  The study therefore recommends among others that the planting of trees around the roundabout and environments be encouraged.