Rainfall Characteristics and Soil Erosion in the Rainforest Area of Western Nigeria

Abstract

SUMMARY: Precipitation in Western Nigeria is principally from thunderstorms with sharp, high-intensity rainfall peaks. The time of occurrence of the peak intensity period in a rainstorm has an influence on whether or not runoff occurs in smaller storms. Runoff and soil loss on bare, cultivated Iwo soil are closely related to an EI₃₀ erosivity index, modified by the time-position of the peak intensity. The soil erodibility factor in the universal soil-loss equation could be reasonably estimated from easily measured soil parameters.