Analysis of the Potential Soil Parent Rock Resources and Ecological Footprint in Jadaka, Kandahar, Kargo, Makada and Sarki Aska Villages of Dutse, Nigeria

A study of the parent materials and ecological analysis, covering five sites of Dutse area in Jigawa State, Nigeria was undertaken; applying the concepts of visual assessment and ecological footprint to describe the biophysical condition of the rock particles and human economy. The objectives of the study were to classify the basic parent rocks and ecological footprints around them and to draw conclusions regarding the proper utilization of rocks and sustainable economic development in the area. Assessment activities were carried out based on four concepts, which are a description of the underlying parent rocks, geomorphic surface soil characteristics, measurement of the rock size and ecological footprint by human demand on rocks. Factors recounting the true nature and condition of parent rocks such as classes, type, texture, colour, and pedogenesis were evaluated to guide biophysical characteristics of the rocks. The major surface features were recorded as anthropogenic-related to heating and breaking of rocks, cirque land, gullied land, and rock-outcrop. Data from the typical rock sizes in term of length and height were used for describing and contrasting the dimension of rock's formation and fragmentation in each site. This dimension was measured on average as 12.7 m Kargo, 10.8m Kandahar, 9.0 m Jadaka, 7.6 m Makada and 3.7m Sarkin Aska. Ecological footprint indicated that about 2.4 ha to 3.7 ha of the total rock areas are required to support the population of these villages. Proper utilization and management of the parent rocks can be used as a means of improving the sustainable livelihood of the population in the study sites.