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Journal of Applied Sciences

Year: 2007 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 17 | Page No.: 2495-2499
DOI: 10.3923/jas.2007.2495.2499
Physical Shrinkage Relationship in Soils of Dissimilar Lithologies in Central Southeastern Nigeria
E.U. Onweremadu, F.O.R. Akamigbo and C.A. Igwe

Abstract: This study investigated the relationship between volume shrinkage properties of soils derived from different parent materials in Central Southeastern Nigeria as they related to selected soil physical properties. Using a free survey technique and guided by a geological map of the area, field sampling was conducted in the early months of 2005. Routine analyses were done using collected soil samples. Results showed significant (p<0.05) variation in sand, clay, waterholding capacity, Atterberg limits and Co-efficient of Linear Extensibility (COLE) among the 6 studied soil groups. Volume shrinkage results indicated severe shrinkage (20-30%) rating for soils derived from Shale, moderate shrinkage (10-20%) for soils formed over Lower Coal Measures and Falsebedded Sandstones and slight shrinkage (0-10%) ratings for the rest. The COLE, used as an index of VS correlated significantly (p<0.05; n = 150) with waterholding capacity (WHC), Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), Plasticity Index (PI) and clay content. A model was generated which expressed good predictive relationship between COLE and selected physical properties (R = 0.87; R2 = 0.75; 1-R2 = 0.25, RMSE = 0.01 and Bias = +0.00001), indicating high accuracy and little over-estimation by the model. More soil and soil related variables may further improve generated model (s), thus should be included in future studies.

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How to cite this article
E.U. Onweremadu, F.O.R. Akamigbo and C.A. Igwe, 2007. Physical Shrinkage Relationship in Soils of Dissimilar Lithologies in Central Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Applied Sciences, 7: 2495-2499.

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