The recent revised universal soil loss equation ruslebased estimation of sheet and rill erosion in south africa provides an average soil loss of 12a6 t ha a1 y a1 and indicates that. South africa, namibia and botswana and preland reforms zimbabwe. Powtoon gives you everything you need to easily make professional videos and presentations that your clients, colleagues, and friends will love. Soil erosion is a major problem confronting land and water resources throughout south africa sa.
What is south africa s current soil erosion status. Soil erosion is one of the major forms of land degradation in subsaharan africa ssa with serious impact on agricultural productivity. Status and priorities of soil management in south africa. University of cape town,faculty of science,department of environmental and geographical science, 1998 cited yyyy month dd.
This study investigates the impact of soil erosion on the agricultural potential and performance of sheshegu community farmers in the eastern cape of south africa. Due to the absence of reliable data at appropriate resolution and differences in the methods used, there are discrepancies in soil erosion estimates at both continental and basin levels. Environmental change, soil erosion and land degradation are key factors in reduced productivity. Evaluating soil loss on roadcuts in southeastern south africa using rill dimensions and soil properties journal of geographical sciences. Soil erosion in maasai heartlands in tanzania photograph. Soil erosion is a major environmental problem confronting land and water resources in south africa. Causes of soil erosion erosion occurs when farming practices are not compatible with the fact that soil can be washed away or blown away. The paper investigates the relationship between geology, soils and slope aspects in four ciskei catchments. Gravity pulls everything to the center of the earth gravity causes sediment, water and other material. It is a common phenomenon in countries that have a natural predisposition, soil conformation and geomorphology, but human activity is another variable that can highly increase risks and damages of erosion. Loss of soil vegetative cover is especially widespread in developing countries. Sumnerc introduction soil erosion is a major problem confronting land resources throughout south africa. Since lindeques article in 2010, south africa s erosion problem hasnt significantly worsened, but it has also not improved. The proportion of an 1800 km 2 study area in the middleveld classified as high erosion class has increased from 6.
The primary aim of the study was to determine whether any simple bivariate relationship exists between these independent variables and soil erosion. Soil erosion by water is considered the dominant land forming process dunne. Surface erosion and sediment control at open cast mines in. The highly exposed south african predominantly sandy coastline is going to be susceptible to increased erosion by wind, wave processes etc due to the expected increased storminess. Pdf soil erosion in the swartland, western cape province. Crop yields are, in addition to the degree of past and current erosion, determined by a number of interacting variables. Annually, were still losing an estimated 500 million tons of sediment, composed of mainly soil and topsoil. Erosion changes the face of the natural environment and leads to land degradation. This is particularly worrisome since, according to the uns food and agriculture organization, some 83% of subsaharan african people depend on the land for their livelihood, and food production in africa will have to increase almost 100. Pdf erosion is a major soil degradation problem in south africa, confronting both land and. Jan 30, 20 sheet erosion frits van oudtshoorn of the modimollebased africa land use services explains that the aim of sheet erosion restoration is to establish vegetation that protects the soil and then allows natural regeneration processes to take over.
Although soil erosion is a natural process it is often accelerated by human. Soil erosion in the swartland, western cape province, south. The aims of the workshop were to exchange information, identify issues of common concern and shared needs, and discuss the. Introduction soil erosion is the single major process responsible for the loss of billion tonnes of soils worldwide. The secondary aim of the study was to determine whether combining the three independent variables and using a multivariate analysis could. For example, over a period of 100 years at an erosion loss rate of 2 thayr on 10 ha, erosion will deposit the soil equivalent of about 1 ha of land with a soil depth of 15 cm. Pdf the impact of soil erosion as a food security and rural. Previous research indicates that over 70% of the countrys surface has been affected by varying inten. The impact of soil erosion on both the environmental and social wellbeing of communities in east africa is to be explored in new research led by the university of plymouth.
Soil erosion is one of the unresolved problems of rural agriculture. Although soil erosion has received considerable attention in south africa from researchers and land managers alike meadows, 2003, recent work has largely been confined to erosion associated with. Soil erosion in south africa its nature and distribution. The soil covering the surface of the earth has taken millions of years to form and we must learn to respect it. Evidence from fieldbased studies of rates of soil erosion. Although erosion is a natural process it is accelerated by practices such as land clearing, overgrazing, some cultivations and poorly constructed farm roads and dams. Land degradation the process of land degradation in southern africa is blamed on water and wind erosion, sedimentation, longterm destruction of vegetation and diminution of the bioresources. Innovative prosmallholder farmers permanent mulch for. A paper read at the afternoon meeting of the society on 8 may i933 by mr. Studies in the molopo basin suggest that whilst soil erosion is seen by farmers as an inevitable consequence of farming, soil chemical degradation processes are rapidly becoming a major constraint. Pdf the south african soil environment shoana leigh. Since lindeques article in 2010, south africas erosion problem hasnt significantly worsened, but it has also not improved. The total mean loss for the whole continent stands at 9%. Once this nutrientrich layer is gone, few plants will grow in the soil again.
Yet even low rates of erosion sustained over billions of years, result in the displacement of enormous quantities of soil. Structured interview scheduled was used to collect data from 50 respondents using simple random sampling. Soil erosion is a major soil degradation problem, confronting land and water resource management throughout south africa. Soil erosion in tanzania in pictures environment the. Evidence from fieldbased studies of rates of soil erosion on. A number of political developments in the political and socioeconomic geography of south africa have helped to exacerbate soil erosion. High rates of soil erosion by water are causing rapid sedimentation of water bodies, ultimately leading to water crisis in sa. Monitoring soil erosion in south africa at a regional scale. Champion soil erosion is in reality but one of the aspects of a more general problem with which the world is now being faced, namely soil deterioration. As the soil degraded, biomass production was reduced so. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action of wind and water at a greater rate than it is formed soil. Poor farming practices as well as the trend toward agricultural intensification have. Soil erosion and land degradation in the swartland and.
Research assesses impact of soil erosion on land and. Soil erosion in the sahel has been studied since the 1930s. In geological time, several phases of uplifting, erosion and deposition have created. The 19 bantu land act and the development and trust land act of 1936 had the. Soil is formed at a rate of only 1 cm every 100 to 400 years and it takes 3 000 to 12 000 years to. Soil degradationinduced decline in productivity of sub. Pdf the impact of soil erosion as a food security and. Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the earths. Previous research indicates that more than 70% of south africa sa is affected by varying intensities of soil erosion garland et al. The secondary aim of the study was to determine whether combining the three independent variables and. Erosion removes the best, most fertile part of the soil, the topsoil where most of. Its surface area is 122 million ha, of which almost 86% is used for agriculture, 74% being natural veld and 14. A 1999 national survey suggests that land in nearly 25% of the magisterial districts of south africa is already badly degraded, while the ministry for water affairs and forestry has estimated that more than 300 million tons of topsoil are being washed. An examination of the human dimension of soil erosion in south africa was therefore undertaken through an analysis of soil conservation policy and legislation promulgated to effect policy objectives between 1910 and 1992.
Soil erosion, and consequently the need for conservation, is not confined to land under arable. Accordingly, materne grew vetiver slips in large pots in a greenhouse, and in the spring of 1990 planted them side by side on the bare and barren slopes immediately above each check dam. The paper provides an insight into the problem of land degradation in subsaharan africa, with emphasis on soil erosion and its effect on soil quality and productivity, and proposes a lowlandbased riceproduction technology for coping with the situation. Soil erosion, desertification and farming in southern africa. Assessing soil erosion associated with main roads in south. Soil conservation policy in south africa, 19101992. Soils of south africa is the first book in seventy years that provides a comprehensive account of south african soils.
Forests, rangelands and climate change in southern africa. Pdf water erosion prediction at a national scale for south africa. Acknowledging that the policy environment is influenced by factors within the economic, political, historical and. Soil erosion is a major land degradation problem in south africa sa that has economic, social and environmental implications due to both onsite and offsite effects. A case study in the denku microwatershed oromia region by kassu kebede beyene submitted in accordance with the requirement for the degree of masters in human ecology at the university of south africa supervisor. This paper assesses soil erosion research in the west africansahelatanumberoflevels. The overwhelming focus of documentary sources indicate that traditional approaches to land degradation and soil erosion in south africa have focussed on the physical dimension of the problem and the development of practical solutions to its reduction. Land degradation in dryland areas is a major source of concern and controversy in south africa. The extensive removal of forests for crops and pastures is followed by extensive soil erosion.
Annually, were still losing an estimated 500 million tons of. Sheet erosion frits van oudtshoorn of the modimollebased africa land use services explains that the aim of sheet erosion restoration is to establish vegetation that protects the soil and then allows natural regeneration processes to take over. The pressures and impacts on the environment which constitute environmental change highlights the increased generation of human pollution and waste. The main conclusions of the research project on soil erosion and sedimentation in swaziland are as follows. Jul 27, 2016 what is south africas current soil erosion status. Soil erosion not restricted to the south 9 erosion in the drier regions 11 relation of sediments to fertility the danger of averages 15 relation to flood control 16 limited amount of data available 18 soiltype information 19 the warning of a geologist 21 looking forward 22 part 2. The reduction of yields in africa as a result of erosion is about ten to fifty percent. Erosion is the process by which rocks and soil are transported from one location to another. This must of necessity be an important factor, and in mountainous country it is often only by reason of a strong vegetal mantle or artificial means that the soil, no matter what its nature, is kept in place at all. The book arranges more than seventy soil forms into fourteen groups and then provides, for each group. Dec 06, 2016 the impact of soil erosion on both the environmental and social wellbeing of communities in east africa is to be explored in new research led by the university of plymouth.
Without soil and plants the land becomes desertlike and unable to support life. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action of wind and water at a greater rate than it is formed soil the soil covering the surface of the earth has taken millions of years to form and we must learn to respect it. Protect the soil by controlling erosion farmers weekly. Feb 16, 2010 soils of south africa is the first book in seventy years that provides a comprehensive account of south african soils. Soil erosion has typically been viewed as the main form of desertification affecting african drylands. Status and priorities of soil management in south africa liesl wiese 6 december 2012. Carbon sequestration in dryland ecosystems of west asia and north africa. Before rehabilitation begins, the cause of sheet erosion at a site needs to be understood and dealt with. Many of the policies that were implemented by the state have not been effective in reducing the rate of soil loss. Soil erosion in south africa south africa is characterized by a wide biodiversity and distribution of the natural resources soil, climate, water and vegetation. Soil erosion in the swartland, western cape province, south africa. The impact of soil erosion on agricultural potential and. The distribution of soil erosion as a function of slope. Threats to sustainability of soil functions in central.
Indigenous approach to soil erosion control in the southwest nigeria fig working week 2012 knowing to manage the territory, protect the environment, evaluate the cultural heritage rome, italy, 6 10 may, 2012 1. Jan 22, 2015 soil erosion is one of the major forms of land degradation in subsaharan africa ssa with serious impact on agricultural productivity. Soil erosion, policy and peoples perceptions in a rural. T value tolerable erosion equilibrium between soil gains and losses. In such areas the fall of the streams and rivers is rapid and.
A 1999 national survey suggests that land in nearly 25% of the magisterial districts of south africa is already badly degraded, while the ministry for water affairs and forestry has estimated that more than 300 million tons of topsoil are being washed away. No design or tech skills are necessary its free, easy, and awesome. The material moved by erosion is called sediment 3. Monitoring soil erosion in south africa at a regional. Soil erosion and land degradation in the swartland and sandveld, western cape province, south africa.
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