Climate change and the impact of deforestation on soil quality in the eastern obolo region of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Climate change and deforestation will affect soil processes and properties because, soils are connected to atmosphere/climate systems through the carbon, nitrogen and hydrologic cycles. The study analyzed the effects of deforestation on soil quality and its impact on climate change in communities of the Obolo Region in Akwa Ibom State. A sample size of five communities was randomly selected from a total population of thirty-two communities in the region. The experimental research design was used for the research. The nature and sources of data were primary and secondary sources. Soil Auger was used in collecting the soil samples from five deforested communities in the region namely Okoroete, Kampa, Amadaka, Elile, and Okombokwo and a composite control were collected from three locations namely Kampa, Amadaka and Elile at a depth of 0-15cm and 15-30cm in an independent simple random sampling method. A total of six soil samples were collected and analyzed with a standard method for microbial/biological and heavy metals. The data collected from the laboratory was subjected to statistical analysis (t-test and ANOVA) including range, mean, standard deviation and variance. The results of the study indicated that there is significant variation between deforested land and soil properties as there has been a decrease in soil microbial/biological count and an induced heavy metal which degraded the soil properties. This decrease contributed to the reduction of soil fertility, soil erosion, and land degradation which can lower the amount of Co2 and mitigate the greenhouse effect that contributes to climate change. The study recommended that to reduce the rate of deforestation and soil quality, the government should revive the use of other sources of energy such as biogas and electricity to minimize the use of fuelwood; encourage vegetation cover; develop sustained land use practices, encourage long term sustainability of the farmland system and biophysical settings to preserve soil quality to mitigate greenhouse effect that contributes to climate change; policy on anthropogenic activities and community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) among others.