Articles | Volume 7, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-7-767-2021
© Author(s) 2021. 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-7-767-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
25 Nov 2021
Original research article |
| 25 Nov 2021
| 25 Nov 2021
Assessing soil and land health across two landscapes in eastern Rwanda to inform restoration activities
Leigh Ann Winowiecki
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
Aida Bargués-Tobella
Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Umeå, Sweden
Athanase Mukuralinda
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kigali, Rwanda
Providence Mujawamariya
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kigali, Rwanda
Elisée Bahati Ntawuhiganayo
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kigali, Rwanda
Alex Billy Mugayi
World Vision Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
Susan Chomba
World Resources Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
Tor-Gunnar Vågen
World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
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Tegawende Léa Jeanne Ilboudo, Lucien NGuessan Diby, Delwendé Innocent Kiba, Tor Gunnar Vågen, Leigh Ann Winowiecki, Hassan Bismarck Nacro, Johan Six, and Emmanuel Frossard
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Our results showed that at landscape level SOC stock variability was mainly explained by clay content. We found significant linear positive relationships between VC and SOC stocks for the land uses annual croplands, perennial croplands, grasslands and bushlands without soil depth restrictions until 110 cm. We concluded that in the forest-savanna transition zone, soil properties and topography determine land use, which in turn affects the stocks of SOC and TN and to some extent the VC stocks.
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We investigated various soil and climate properties that influence soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings indicate that climate and geochemistry are equally important for explaining SOC variations. The key SOC-controlling factors are broadly similar to those for temperate regions, despite differences in soil development history between the two regions.
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M. Holleran, M. Levi, and C. Rasmussen
SOIL, 1, 47–64, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-47-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-47-2015, 2015
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Short summary
Achieving global restoration targets requires scaling of context-specific restoration options on the ground. We implemented the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework in Rwanda to assess indicators of soil and land health, including soil organic carbon (SOC), erosion prevalence, infiltration capacity, and tree biodiversity. Maps of soil erosion and SOC were produced at 30 m resolution with high accuracy. These data provide a rigorous biophysical baseline for tracking changes over time.
Achieving global restoration targets requires scaling of context-specific restoration options on...
