EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF SOIL PROPERTIES RELATED TO TRACTION ON AN UNPAVED ILE-APA FARM ROAD

Abstract

Ile-Apa is a farming community in Kwara State, Nigeria. Loss of manhours resulting from loss of traction has been a major problem for farm vehicles travelling in and around Ile-Apa. This makes it difficult to convey farm inputs to the farm during certain periods of the year. Due to the heterogeneity of agricultural soils, it would be inappropriate to use soil data from different locations to design or select tractive devices for this community. It became necessary to determine soil parameters related to traction on the unpaved road in, and around the Ile-Apa community. Experimental methods were used to determine soil cohesion (C), internal angle of friction (ϕ), wet basis moisture content (Mc), void ratio (e), porosity (n) and bulk density (ρ). Results obtained showed that C, ϕ, Mc, e, n and ρ were 1.4 N/cm2, 34.84°, 44.92%, 1.213, 0.548 and 1.768 g/cm3 respectively. These indicated that the soil in the area lacked sufficient strength to support heavy vehicles during rainy periods. Appropriate tractive devices must therefore be carefully selected to avoid loss of manhour and damage to both soil and vehicle.