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Impact of Radical Terracing on Chemical Properties of the Soil a Case of Nyabihu District, Rwanda

Received: 12 March 2019    Accepted: 30 April 2019    Published: 3 June 2019
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Abstract

Cultivation on steep slopes without any kind of soil conservation methods causes’ major erosion phenomenon, in Nyabihu District of Rwanda radical terraces has been implemented in order to decrease soil erosion effect. This study aimed at assessing the impact of this radical terracing on the soil chemical properties. Soil samples was collected before and after terracing and analyzed for pH, organic matter, available phosphorous, exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium; cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and total exchangeable acidity. The pH and organic matter was analyzed respectively using a pH-meter and calcinations method, while the available phosphorous were obtained using the MEHLICH III method, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ by titrimetric, potassium, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and total exchangeable acidity were determined using the K-kit method, Nessler method, mineralization and titrimetric method respectively. The results from the soil samples analyzed showed that terracing have an impact on soil chemical properties of the soil. All the studied properties decreased except the total exchangeable acidity which increased, therefore, the soil after terracing needs improvement of its fertility and productivity; through sufficient agricultural inputs both mineral and organic.

Published in International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (Volume 4, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13
Page(s) 50-54
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Soil, Terracing, Chemical Properties, Agricultural Input

References
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[3] Lal, R., 2014. Desertification and soil erosion. Glob. Environ. Change 1, 369–378.
[4] Bai, Z. G., Dent, D. L., Olsson, L., Schaepman, M. E., 2008. Global assessment of land degradation and improvement. 1. Identification by Remote Sensing. International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), Wageningen, 70pp.
[5] Nachtergaele, F., Petri, M., Biancalani, R., Van Lynden, G., Van Velthuizen, H. 2010. Global Land Degradation Information System (GLADIS). Beta Version. An Information Database for Land Degradation Assessment at Global Level. Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands Technical Report, 17. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome.
[6] FAO, 2015. Crop Prospects and Food Situation. [Online] URL: http://www.fao.org/3/a-I4410E.pdf (accessed 12.4.2019).
[7] MINAGRI, (2002). Etude sur la protection des bassins versants et la conservation des sols, Kigali, Rwanda. 36p.
[8] LWH, 2008. MINAGRI (2002). Etude sur la protection des bassins versa et la conservation des sols, Kigali Rwanda. P36.
[9] MINAGRI, (2004), Plan stratégique pour la transformation de l’agriculture au Rwanda. Kigali. Rwanda.70p.
[10] Rutsiro district report, (2012). District development plan.
[11] McLean, EO. (1982). Soil pH and lime requirement. Madison, Wisconsin. america.
[12] Raymond, W., Miller and Roy, L., Donahue, (1990), SOILS: An introduction to Soil and Plant growth, 6th edition, Prentice Hall. New Jersey 07632, USA. 768p.
[13] Mutwewingabo et Rutunga, (1987). Etude des sols de l’essai d’intensification de l’agriculture de Gikongoro. Rwanda. 87p.
[14] Halvin, J. L., Tisdale, S. L., Beaton, J. D. and Nelson, W. L., (2005). Soil fertility and Fertilizers: An introductory to nutrient management.7th edition. Prentice Hall. New Jersey 07458. USA. 515p.
[15] Zhaohua, D., Yunxia, L., Xingjian, W., and Dianwu, Z., (1997). Changes in pH, CEC and Exchangeable acidity of some forest soils in Southern CHINA. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 108: 377–390. China.
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  • APA Style

    Niragire Ezechiel, Maniragaba Abias. (2019). Impact of Radical Terracing on Chemical Properties of the Soil a Case of Nyabihu District, Rwanda. International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 4(2), 50-54. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13

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    ACS Style

    Niragire Ezechiel; Maniragaba Abias. Impact of Radical Terracing on Chemical Properties of the Soil a Case of Nyabihu District, Rwanda. Int. J. Nat. Resour. Ecol. Manag. 2019, 4(2), 50-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13

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    AMA Style

    Niragire Ezechiel, Maniragaba Abias. Impact of Radical Terracing on Chemical Properties of the Soil a Case of Nyabihu District, Rwanda. Int J Nat Resour Ecol Manag. 2019;4(2):50-54. doi: 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13,
      author = {Niragire Ezechiel and Maniragaba Abias},
      title = {Impact of Radical Terracing on Chemical Properties of the Soil a Case of Nyabihu District, Rwanda},
      journal = {International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2},
      pages = {50-54},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijnrem.20190402.13},
      abstract = {Cultivation on steep slopes without any kind of soil conservation methods causes’ major erosion phenomenon, in Nyabihu District of Rwanda radical terraces has been implemented in order to decrease soil erosion effect. This study aimed at assessing the impact of this radical terracing on the soil chemical properties. Soil samples was collected before and after terracing and analyzed for pH, organic matter, available phosphorous, exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium; cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and total exchangeable acidity. The pH and organic matter was analyzed respectively using a pH-meter and calcinations method, while the available phosphorous were obtained using the MEHLICH III method, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ by titrimetric, potassium, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and total exchangeable acidity were determined using the K-kit method, Nessler method, mineralization and titrimetric method respectively. The results from the soil samples analyzed showed that terracing have an impact on soil chemical properties of the soil. All the studied properties decreased except the total exchangeable acidity which increased, therefore, the soil after terracing needs improvement of its fertility and productivity; through sufficient agricultural inputs both mineral and organic.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Impact of Radical Terracing on Chemical Properties of the Soil a Case of Nyabihu District, Rwanda
    AU  - Niragire Ezechiel
    AU  - Maniragaba Abias
    Y1  - 2019/06/03
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13
    T2  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JF  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    JO  - International Journal of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
    SP  - 50
    EP  - 54
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3061
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijnrem.20190402.13
    AB  - Cultivation on steep slopes without any kind of soil conservation methods causes’ major erosion phenomenon, in Nyabihu District of Rwanda radical terraces has been implemented in order to decrease soil erosion effect. This study aimed at assessing the impact of this radical terracing on the soil chemical properties. Soil samples was collected before and after terracing and analyzed for pH, organic matter, available phosphorous, exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium; cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and total exchangeable acidity. The pH and organic matter was analyzed respectively using a pH-meter and calcinations method, while the available phosphorous were obtained using the MEHLICH III method, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ by titrimetric, potassium, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen and total exchangeable acidity were determined using the K-kit method, Nessler method, mineralization and titrimetric method respectively. The results from the soil samples analyzed showed that terracing have an impact on soil chemical properties of the soil. All the studied properties decreased except the total exchangeable acidity which increased, therefore, the soil after terracing needs improvement of its fertility and productivity; through sufficient agricultural inputs both mineral and organic.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

  • Department of Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Management, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda

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