Question

Difficulty: MediumMethods and Techniques of Environmental Conservation

To check the severe gully expansion destroying farmland and infrastructure in parts of South-Eastern Nigeria, environmental engineers construct low, permeable barrier walls across gully channels using stones enclosed in wire mesh cages to trap sediment and reduce runoff velocity. Which soil erosion management technique is described?

  1. Installation of gabion structuresAnswer
  2. B
    Establishment of shelterbelts
  3. C
    Implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment scoping
  4. D
    Execution of oil spill containment using booms

Answer

Installation of gabion structures
The installation of gabions involves constructing wire mesh containers packed with rocks across active erosion channels. These structures dissipate the velocity of flowing water, facilitate water infiltration, and trap moving sediments, making them an effective mechanical method for controlling gully erosion in regions like South-Eastern Nigeria.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the mechanical description provided in the scenario
Identified low, permeable wire-mesh baskets filled with stones constructed across gully beds to intercept sediment and dissipate kinetic energy of surface runoff
Understanding the physical setup and working mechanism of specific soil conservation techniques is essential for accurate classification.
2
Match the mechanism with the correct conservation technique
Gabions are the standard engineering structure matching this description, widely used in South-Eastern Nigeria for gully stabilization.
Distinguishes mechanical watershed intervention methods from biological (afforestation) or policy-based (EIA) measures.

Key Concept

Mechanical Soil Conservation Methods (Gabions and Check Dams)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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