Sustainability Analysis of Soil Erosion Control in Rwanda: Case Study of the Sebeya Watershed

Félicien Majoro (), Umaru Garba Wali, Omar Munyaneza and François-Xavier Naramabuye
Additional contact information
Félicien Majoro: Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3900, Rwanda
Umaru Garba Wali: Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3900, Rwanda
Omar Munyaneza: Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3900, Rwanda
François-Xavier Naramabuye: Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3971, Rwanda

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-22

Abstract: Soil erosion is a complex process that results in soil and fertility losses from agricultural land and, ultimately, leads to river sedimentation. This study aimed to assess various influential factors and processes affecting soil erosion and to recommend suitable site-based Soil Erosion Control Measures (SECM) for sustainable agriculture while minimizing the downstream rivers and reservoir sedimentation in the Sebeya watershed of Rwanda. The present research used a literature review, site visits, and focus groups to assess various SECM within the Sebeya watershed. As a result, various site-based SECM were evaluated, recommended, and simulated to alleviate high soil loss rates in the Sebeya watershed using the Universal Soil Erosion Equation (USLE) model. Simulating existing and proposed SECM, soil loss was reduced significantly from 73 t/ha/y to 29 t/ha/y. To highlight the implication of the site-based recommended SECM in improving agricultural productivity, this study suggests field investigations in soil erosion plots and prediction of crop yields from an established linear correlation model between soil loss and crop yields in the Sebeya watershed. For effective action in reducing high soil erosion rates to tolerable rates in the Sebeya watershed, the present research recommends implementing the site-based recommended SECM with mulching and drainage channels on the same farmland. However, lack of money and knowledge are the main limitations in implementing SECM in the Sebeya watershed. Therefore, governmental and non-governmental organizations should technically and financially help farmers in the Sebeya watershed.

Keywords: Sebeya watershed; soil erosion causes; soil erosion effects; soil erosion control measures; crop yields; Rwanda (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/1969/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/1969/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:1969-:d:1041861

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().