




































Asian Review of Environmental 

and Earth Sciences 
ISSN: 2313-8173 
Vol. 1, No. 1, 16-18, 2014 

http://www.asianonlinejournals.com/index.php/AREES 

 
 

 

 

 

 

16 

 

Seasonal  Variations of Infiltration Rates of Forest Land 

Cover in Utisols Soils of Abini, Biase, Cross River State of 

Nigeria 
 

Ukata, Samual Uka
1
 --- Oluyemi Ayorinde Akintoye

2
 --- Charles Ojong Nkpena

3
 --- 

Ubong Edet Harrison
4
 

 
1,2

Dept. of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria 
3
Research and Planning Department, Cross River Tourism Bureau, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria 

4
Dept. of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria 

 

Abstract 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License 

Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

 

1. Introduction 
The movement of water into the immediate soil surface either through precipitation, irrigation or other 

hydrological processes describes the phenomenon of infiltration. It involves three main components of surface entry, 

movement through the soil surface and reduction of soil storage capacity. The maximum rate at which the soil in any 

given condition is capable of absorbing water is called infiltration capacity, while infiltration rate on the other hand 

refers to the amount of water that passes into the ground surface at a given depth, per unit time [2]. Akintoye, et al. 

[3]  have also examined the effects of land-use on the infiltration capacity of coastal plain soils of Calabar in Nigeria. 

As an important process in the soil phase of the hydrologic cycle, infiltration determines the amount of run -off 

and supply of water into the soil profile [4]. Empirical works have proved the variations in infiltration rates of 

tropical soils resulting from high rainfall seasonality, parent material and the influence of vegetation. Studies by 

Antigha [5] showed marked variations in mean infiltration rates of soils under forested land cover of Akamkpa to be 

between 3.1 and 3.6 cm/hr-
1
 in dry and raining seasons of the year. In Ireland, Diamond [6] assessed the infiltration 

capacities of some extensive soils to determine their temporal and spatial variability.  The result showed that the 

initial moisture content at 0.60mm depth was lower during summer than winter, with mean values of 0.38 mm and 

0.70 mm. The mean steady infiltration rate (mm hr
-1

) was given as 50.4 mm and 22.1 mm respectively. Also, studies 

by Ahn [7] in England revealed seasonal variations of mean infiltration rates to be 0.24 mm and 0.63 mm at summer 

and winter season to corroborates previous research findings. 

From the above, an understanding of the moisture regime of soils of the study area depends on the estimate of 

soil water properties and control of the dynamics of water flow theory in time and space. Consequently, this paper 

This article provides insight into the seasonal variation of infiltration rates of utisol soils, under forest 

cover in Abini, Biase, Cross River State of Nigeria. The annual and seasonal amount of precipitation 

upon a place, and the soils capacity to absorb same, affects the degree and extent of the occurrence of 

ecological events, such as overland flow, runoff, erosion, flooding and landslide, quite inimical to land 

productivity. Thus the study investigated the response of forest soils to precipitation intake at different 

seasons, which is pertinent to landuse planning in both construction and agricultural industries. Data 

from the study were generated through field measurements of the infiltration rates of soils using a 

cylinder (flooding) inflitrometer designed by Hills [1] in two seasons of rainy (September-October) and 

dry (December-January) respectively, in rural watershed. The result showed seasonal changes in the 

equilibrium rates of infiltration form 9.6cm/hrt (rainy season) to 8.4 cm/hrt (dry season). This was 

indeed a hypothetical contrast from the expected ideal situation among infiltration experts, that 

infiltration values are supposed to soar in dry season than rainy season in the tropics. The factors of soil 

pore compaction and decline  in the rates of biological activities accounted for this. Soil compaction 

reduces the rate of soil water loss through evaporation, enhances ground water conservation and 

stabilizes the soil structure for diverse benefits to man. Afforestation programme is hereby 

recommended to sustain the regional   land ecosystem. 
 

       Keywords: Seasonal variation, Infiltration rates, Ecological events, Compaction of pores. 

 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(1):16-18 

 

 

 

 

17 

 

provides information on water availability and moisture retention capacity of soils under forest land cover in Abini 

region at different seasons of the year, which is necessary for land use planning, both in the construction and 

agricultural industries, with implication for the manufacturing industries. 

 

2. Study Area 
The study area is Abini, in Biase, Cross River State of Nigeria. It is located between longitude 8

0
06 and 8

0
10’E 

and latitudes 5
0
00N and 5

0
38N. The area is characterized by humid tropical climate with distinct wet and dry 

seasons. Rainfall amount ranges from 3,500 mm to 4,000 mm per annum. The rainy season falls between April and 

October, with a short dry spell usually referred to as August break during the month of August [8]. 

It also has a relative humidity of between 80 and 90 per cent [9]. The temperature is moderately hot and does not 

fluctuate greatly with a mean range of 27
0
C to 33

0
C [10]. The geologic environment comprise of phyllites, schists 

with structural features as foliation, joints, fold intrusion, pegmatite and barite. The rocks are uncomfortably overlain 

by sedimentary sequence of calcareous sandstones with mineral contents of quartz, clay, calcite and fossils occurring 

as ridges [11]. The soils are mostly derived from cretaceous sediments of Eze Aku group [12] and are mostly lateritic 

in the upland area as essential residue products (deposits) formed under distinctive climatic conditions in tropical and 

subtropical regions. There are also calcareous soils containing quartz, calcite and fossils as dominant minerals. Being 

acted upon by human induced and natural processes, the soils occur in separate, but close ranges as silt loam, silt day, 

loamy, sand loam and clay loam, with varying textural characteristics of coarse gritty, powdery smooth to sticky and 

plastic feel. 

The forest land cover is made up of woody and non-woody plants (parasitic, saprophytic and epiphytic climbers) 

which constitutes luxuriant and dense tree canopy, shading the soils from the vagaries of nature across seasons. This, 

in conjunction with other highlighted environmental variables influence the infiltration rates of regional soils at 

different scales, which can either be detrimental or beneficial to the local land resources. 

 

3. Method of Study 
A cylinder (flooding) infiltrometer designed by Hills [1] was used for field measurements in both rainy 

(September –October) and dry (December-January) seasons in rural watershed   under forest land cover. A metal 

tube was driven into the ground to a depth of 10cm with a sledge hammer to avoid lateral flow of water during 

experiment. Care was taken to prevent damage to the soil structure in the process [13]. 

As a rule, a constant ponding level of 5cm was maintained in the metal tube (ring) throughout the experimental 

runs. Using a timer, readings were taken at various time interval, until a state of equilibrium, which is usually 180 

minutes was reached. The experiment was replicated in rainy and dry seasons on the same land cover to determine 

seasonal variations in the infiltration capacity of the soils 

 
Table-1. Equilibrium infiltration rate of forest land cover in rainy season (September-October) 

Internal (Mins) Cumulative time (mins) Cumulative  intake (cm) Infiltration rates (cm/hr) 

0 0 0  

5 5 1.6 12.0 

5 10 2.0 11.8 

5 15 2.5 10.2 

5 20 4.0 12.0 

5 25 4.5 11.0 

5 30 5.5 11.0 

10 40 7.2 11.0 

10 50 8.8 11.0 

10 60 10.6 11.0 

15 75 11.6 10.0 

15 90 14.8 9.6 

30 120 18.6 9.6 

30 150 24.4 9.6 

30 180 28.8 9.6 
                     Source: Authors fieldwork, 2012 

 
Table-2. Equilibrium infiltration rate of forest landcover in dry season (December-January) 

Internal (Mins) Cumulative time (mins) Cumulative  intake (cm) Infiltration rates (cm/hr) 

0 0 0  

5 5 8.2 52.1 

5 10 7.6 46.0 

5 15 9.8 39.0 

5 20 10.8 32.4 

5 25 11.8 28.3 

5 30 12.4 25.0 

10 40 13.4 20.1 

10 50 14.4 17.3 

10 60 15.2 15.2 

15 75 15.4 12.3 

15 90 15.8 11.0 

30 120 16.2 8.4 

30 150 20.4 8.4 

30 180 24.6 8.4 
                      Source: Authors fieldwork, 2013 

 

 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2014, 1(1):16-18 

 

 

 

 

18 

 

4. Result and Discussion  
Table 1 and 2 show the equilibrium infiltration rate or the maximum water absorption rate of soils under forest 

cover at two different seasons of the year. It was discovered at the beginning of experiment in both seasons that soils 

exhibited strong capillary attraction (sorptivity) for moisture in the subsurface due to increased matrix potential 

(energy level) within particle surfaces. This gave the high values of infiltration recorded in the first 25-30 minutes. 

But as water percolated downward (transmissivity), the surface layers became semi saturated and capillary forces 

diminished and hence the reduction in infiltration rate values as time elapsed. 

Most frequently, the values of (i) decline monotonically and tend to approach asymptotic state known as the 

final, equilibrium or steady state [4]. 

The study revealed a decline in the infiltration rate of experimental site from (9.6 cmhr) previously recorded in 

rainy season to 8.4 cmhr in the dry season. This was a sharp contrast from what obtains in other land uses in ideal 

situation where intake rate of soil is always higher in dry season, than observed. The factors of decline in soil 

biological activities and the compaction of soil pore accounted for the behaviour of the soil to its water absorption 

and transmission rate. This translate to mean that, in dry season, the rate of water loss to the atmosphere 

(evaporation) occasioned by high solar radiation is lower in forest soils than open or bare land surfaces. This finding 

is in line with [14, 15] that a good vegetation cover and surface condition greatly influence infiltration rate than soil 

type and texture. 

 

5. Conclusion 
The response of soil to water absorption according to seasonal variations is demonstrated in this study.  Values of 

infiltration runs recorded in rainy and dry seasons in forest land cover revealed a hypothetical contrast from the 

popular notion among infiltration experts that the dry season readings must always rank higher in all soils under 

different land covers, especially in the tropics. The ability of forest soils to dynamically indicate a decline in soil 

biological activities leading to the compaction of pore spaces is nature’s mechanism for reducing water loss to the 

atmosphere necessitated by litter decay and foliage protection. Hence, afforestation programmes should be 

encouraged as a measure of stabilizing the hydrologic cycle for the benefit of man. 

 

References  
[1] S. Hills, Entry of water into soil: Environmental soil physics. San Diego: Academic Press, 1970. 

[2] H. M. Raghumath, Hydrology: Principles, analysis and design. New Delhi: New Age International Publishers, 2008. 

[3] O. A. Akintoye, S. U. Ukata, and H. I. Esomonye, "Effects of land-use on the infiltration capacity of coastal plain soils of calabar, 

Nigeria," International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, vol. 2, pp. 80-84, 2012. 

[4] H. Don- Scott, Soil physics: Agricultural environmental application. Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 2000. 

[5] N. R. B. Antigha, "Infiltration characteristics of selected soils in cross river state, Nigeria and their implication for sustainable crop 

production," Unpublished Ph.D Dissertation, University of Calabar, Nigeria, 2007. 

[6] J. Diamond, "Bulk density determination of Chloroche country soils," Irish Geography, vol. 36, pp. 243-248, 2002. 

[7] P. N. Ahn, West African soils. London: Oxford University Press, 2001. 

[8] Nigeria Meteordogical Station (NIMEST), "Annual meteorological readings in biase local government area, Cross River State, 

Nigeria," Calabar Nigeria Meteorological Station (NIMEST), 2009. 

[9] W. R. NAA, "Nigerian airport authority monthly weather Chart for Calabar," 2006. 

[10] J. O. Ayoade, Tropical hydrology and water resources: Agbo Areo Publishers, 2004. 

[11] B. N. Ekwueme, Field geology and geological map production and interpretation. Calabar: Bachudo Science, 2004. 

[12] L. C. Amajor, "The Eze-Aku sandstone ridge of South Eastern Nigeria," Nigeria Journal of Mining Geology, vol. 23, pp. 17-26, 

1987. 

[13] S. U. Ukata, "The effects of landuse on infiltration capacity of soils in biase, Cross River State, Nigeria," An Unpublished PhD 

Dissertation, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, 2012. 

[14] F. O. Akintola, "The parameters of infiltration equations of urban land surfaces," Unpublished Ph.D Dissertation, University of 

Ibadan, Nigeriau, 1974. 

[15] T. A. Saiko and I. S. Zonn, "Landuse and management impacts on structure and infiltration characteristics of Chio," Soil Science, 

vol. 168, pp. 167-177, 2003. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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