Assessment of soil degradation and chemical compositions in Rwandan tea-growing areas

Jean De La Paix Mupenzi; Lanhai Li; Jiwen Ge; Achal Varenyam; Gabriel Habiyaremye; Nzayisenga Theoneste; Kamanzi Emmanuel

doi:10.1016/j.gsf.2011.05.003

Assessment of soil degradation and chemical compositions in Rwandan tea-growing areas

Jean De La Paix Mupenzi^*, Lanhai Li, Jiwen Ge, Achal Varenyam, Gabriel Habiyaremye, Nzayisenga Theoneste, Kamanzi Emmanuel

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study has focused on the processes of soil degradation and chemical element concentration in tea-growing regions of Rwanda, Africa. Soil degradation accelerated by erosion is caused not only by topography but also by human activities. This soil degradation involves both the physical loss and reduction in the amount of topsoil associated with nutrient decline. Soil samples were collected from eleven tropical zones in Rwanda and from variable depth within each collecting site. Of these, Samples from three locations in each zone were analyzed in the laboratory, with the result that the pH of all soil samples is shown to be less than 5 (pH < 5) with a general average of 4.4. The elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are present in high concentration levels. In contrast calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) are present at low-level concentrations and carbon (C) was found in minimal concentrations. In addition, elements derived from fertilizers, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) which is also from minerals such as feldspar, are also present in low-level concentrations. The results indicate that the soil in certain Rwandan tea plantations is acidic and that this level of pH may help explain, in addition to natural factors, the deficiency of some elements such as Ca, Mg, P and N. The use of chemical fertilizers, land use system and the location of fields relative to household plots are also considered to help explain why tea plantation soils are typically degraded.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	599-607
Number of pages	9
Journal	Geoscience Frontiers
Volume	2
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2011.05.003
State	Published - Dec 2011
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Chemical elements
Fertilizer use
Soil degradation
Tea plantations
pH

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.gsf.2011.05.003

Cite this

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title = "Assessment of soil degradation and chemical compositions in Rwandan tea-growing areas",

abstract = "This study has focused on the processes of soil degradation and chemical element concentration in tea-growing regions of Rwanda, Africa. Soil degradation accelerated by erosion is caused not only by topography but also by human activities. This soil degradation involves both the physical loss and reduction in the amount of topsoil associated with nutrient decline. Soil samples were collected from eleven tropical zones in Rwanda and from variable depth within each collecting site. Of these, Samples from three locations in each zone were analyzed in the laboratory, with the result that the pH of all soil samples is shown to be less than 5 (pH < 5) with a general average of 4.4. The elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are present in high concentration levels. In contrast calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) are present at low-level concentrations and carbon (C) was found in minimal concentrations. In addition, elements derived from fertilizers, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) which is also from minerals such as feldspar, are also present in low-level concentrations. The results indicate that the soil in certain Rwandan tea plantations is acidic and that this level of pH may help explain, in addition to natural factors, the deficiency of some elements such as Ca, Mg, P and N. The use of chemical fertilizers, land use system and the location of fields relative to household plots are also considered to help explain why tea plantation soils are typically degraded.",

keywords = "Chemical elements, Fertilizer use, Soil degradation, Tea plantations, pH",

author = "Mupenzi, {Jean De La Paix} and Lanhai Li and Jiwen Ge and Achal Varenyam and Gabriel Habiyaremye and Nzayisenga Theoneste and Kamanzi Emmanuel",

note = "Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (973 program, Grant No. 2010CB951002 ) and the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Science ( KZCX2–YW–334 ). The authors would like to thank the Government of Rwanda, Rwanda National University, and China University of Geosciences (Wuhan/and Beijing) for adeptness and laboratory work. Many thanks to Prof. Y. Wang, President of China University of Geosciences, Mr. Hongtao Su and the editor for their helpful comments, advices and suggestions.",

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AU - Mupenzi, Jean De La Paix

AU - Li, Lanhai

AU - Ge, Jiwen

AU - Varenyam, Achal

AU - Habiyaremye, Gabriel

AU - Theoneste, Nzayisenga

AU - Emmanuel, Kamanzi

N1 - Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the State Key Development Program for Basic Research of China (973 program, Grant No. 2010CB951002 ) and the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Science ( KZCX2–YW–334 ). The authors would like to thank the Government of Rwanda, Rwanda National University, and China University of Geosciences (Wuhan/and Beijing) for adeptness and laboratory work. Many thanks to Prof. Y. Wang, President of China University of Geosciences, Mr. Hongtao Su and the editor for their helpful comments, advices and suggestions.

PY - 2011/12

Y1 - 2011/12

N2 - This study has focused on the processes of soil degradation and chemical element concentration in tea-growing regions of Rwanda, Africa. Soil degradation accelerated by erosion is caused not only by topography but also by human activities. This soil degradation involves both the physical loss and reduction in the amount of topsoil associated with nutrient decline. Soil samples were collected from eleven tropical zones in Rwanda and from variable depth within each collecting site. Of these, Samples from three locations in each zone were analyzed in the laboratory, with the result that the pH of all soil samples is shown to be less than 5 (pH < 5) with a general average of 4.4. The elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are present in high concentration levels. In contrast calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) are present at low-level concentrations and carbon (C) was found in minimal concentrations. In addition, elements derived from fertilizers, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) which is also from minerals such as feldspar, are also present in low-level concentrations. The results indicate that the soil in certain Rwandan tea plantations is acidic and that this level of pH may help explain, in addition to natural factors, the deficiency of some elements such as Ca, Mg, P and N. The use of chemical fertilizers, land use system and the location of fields relative to household plots are also considered to help explain why tea plantation soils are typically degraded.

AB - This study has focused on the processes of soil degradation and chemical element concentration in tea-growing regions of Rwanda, Africa. Soil degradation accelerated by erosion is caused not only by topography but also by human activities. This soil degradation involves both the physical loss and reduction in the amount of topsoil associated with nutrient decline. Soil samples were collected from eleven tropical zones in Rwanda and from variable depth within each collecting site. Of these, Samples from three locations in each zone were analyzed in the laboratory, with the result that the pH of all soil samples is shown to be less than 5 (pH < 5) with a general average of 4.4. The elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are present in high concentration levels. In contrast calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) are present at low-level concentrations and carbon (C) was found in minimal concentrations. In addition, elements derived from fertilizers, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K) which is also from minerals such as feldspar, are also present in low-level concentrations. The results indicate that the soil in certain Rwandan tea plantations is acidic and that this level of pH may help explain, in addition to natural factors, the deficiency of some elements such as Ca, Mg, P and N. The use of chemical fertilizers, land use system and the location of fields relative to household plots are also considered to help explain why tea plantation soils are typically degraded.

KW - Chemical elements

KW - Fertilizer use

KW - Soil degradation

KW - Tea plantations

KW - pH

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SN - 1674-9871

VL - 2

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EP - 607

JO - Geoscience Frontiers

JF - Geoscience Frontiers

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ER -

Assessment of soil degradation and chemical compositions in Rwandan tea-growing areas

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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