Articles | Volume 10, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-887-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-887-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Trapnell's Upper Valley soils of Zambia: the production of an integrated understanding of geomorphology, pedology, ecology, and land use
Nalumino L. Namwanyi
Department of Historical and Archaeological Studies, University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus, Lusaka, Zambia
Maurice J. Hutton
Department of History, University of Nottingham, University Park Campus, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
Ikabongo Mukumbuta
Department of Soil Science, University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus, Lusaka, Zambia
Lydia M. Chabala
Department of Soil Science, University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus, Lusaka, Zambia
Clarence Chongo
Department of Historical and Archaeological Studies, University of Zambia, Great East Road Campus, Lusaka, Zambia
Stalin Sichinga
Soil Survey Unit, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Mt Makulu Central Research Station, Chilanga, Lusaka, Zambia
R. Murray Lark
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
Related authors
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Christopher Chagumaira, Joseph G. Chimungu, Patson C. Nalivata, Martin R. Broadley, Alice E. Milne, and R. Murray Lark
Geosci. Commun. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-2023-1, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-2023-1, 2023
Revised manuscript under review for GC
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Our study is concerned with how uncertainty in spatial information about environmental variables can be communicated to stakeholders to make decisions about sampling whilst considering the trade-off between sample effort and reducing uncertainty. We tested four approaches that relate sampling density and uncertainty by eliciting the opinions of end-users. End-users preferred the method not direct link to decision-making. More work is needed to develop and elucidate decision-specific approaches.
Christopher Chagumaira, Joseph G. Chimungu, Patson C. Nalivata, Martin R. Broadley, Madlene Nussbaum, Alice E. Milne, and R. Murray Lark
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-583, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-583, 2022
Preprint archived
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Our study examines different quantitative methods to predict concentrations of micronutrients in the soil from field samples. However, we emphasize the concerns of stakeholders, who use such information to make decisions, in this case in relation to the study and management of micronutrient deficiency risk in the human population. We propose a framework to think about these concerns then compare common approaches for digital soil mapping within this framework.
Christopher Chagumaira, Joseph G. Chimungu, Dawd Gashu, Patson C. Nalivata, Martin R. Broadley, Alice E. Milne, and R. Murray Lark
Geosci. Commun., 4, 245–265, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-245-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-245-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Our study is concerned with how the uncertainty in spatial information about environmental variables can be communicated to stakeholders who must use this information to make decisions. We tested five methods for communicating the uncertainty in spatial predictions by eliciting the opinions of end-users about the usefulness of the methods. End-users preferred methods based on the probability that concentrations are below or above a nutritionally significant threshold.
Rosa M. Poch, Lucia H. C. dos Anjos, Rafla Attia, Megan Balks, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza, Martha M. Bolaños-Benavides, Costanza Calzolari, Lydia M. Chabala, Peter C. de Ruiter, Samuel Francke-Campaña, Fernando García Préchac, Ellen R. Graber, Siosiua Halavatau, Kutaiba M. Hassan, Edmond Hien, Ke Jin, Mohammad Khan, Maria Konyushkova, David A. Lobb, Matshwene E. Moshia, Jun Murase, Generose Nziguheba, Ashok K. Patra, Gary Pierzynski, Natalia Rodríguez Eugenio, and Ronald Vargas Rojas
SOIL, 6, 541–547, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-541-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-6-541-2020, 2020
Short summary
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Humanity depends on the existence of healthy soils, both for the production of food and for ensuring a healthy, biodiverse environment. In the face of global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, a sustainable soil management strategy is essential to ensure food security based on more diverse, locally oriented, and resilient food production systems through improving access to land, sound land use planning, sustainable soil management, enhanced research, and investment in education and extension.
Related subject area
Soil policy, socio-economics, and culture
Can corporate supply chain sustainability standards contribute to soil protection?
Jan Frouz, Vojtěch Čemus, Jaroslava Frouzová, Alena Peterková, and Vojtěch Kotecký
SOIL, 10, 505–519, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-505-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-505-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We explore business efforts to ensure soil quality in their supply chains through the application of supplier sustainability standards. Through a content analysis of existing sustainability standards and companies' sustainability reports, we found that soil sustainability is an important priority for food retailers. However, the standards currently applied tend to have a limited impact on soil protection due to a lack of specific criteria and thresholds.
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Short summary
We examined historical sources for the Ecological Survey of Zambia, 1932–1943. This found how normal erosion gave rise to soil variation in the upper Zambezi valley, which was expressed in vegetation patterns which African farmers interpreted to select sites for cultivation and traditional production systems. The survey challenged colonial assumptions about traditional practices. We identify lessons for modern-day approaches to traditional agricultural knowledge in Africa.
We examined historical sources for the Ecological Survey of Zambia, 1932–1943. This found how...