A Simplified Spatial Methodology for Assessing Land Productivity Status in Africa

Barasa Bernard, Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo, Banduga Moses, Katwere James, Magaya Paul, Sadadi Ojoatre, Wanjiru Lydia and Margaret N. Walusimbi
Additional contact information
Barasa Bernard: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Majaliwa J. G. Mwanjalolo: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Banduga Moses: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Katwere James: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Magaya Paul: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Sadadi Ojoatre: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Wanjiru Lydia: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda
Margaret N. Walusimbi: GEO-MIK Consultants Africa, Kampala Uganda, Plot 47, Nsamizi Road, Nsamizi View, Entebbe P.O. Box 36742, Uganda

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: The degradation of soil, vegetation and socio-economic transformations are a huge threat to Africa’s land production. This study aimed to (i) assess the soil and land productivity of standing biomass and (ii) determine the effect of rainfall on the standing biomass in Eastern Africa. Soil productivity was determined using the Soil Productivity Index (SPI) and a simplified model was developed to estimate the Net Primary Productivity (NPP). The SPI indicators used included soil-organic matter, texture, soil moisture, base-saturation, pH, cation-exchange-capacity, soil-depth and drainage. The inputs of the simplified model are: MODIS Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), soil erosion, soil nutrient content and input, rainfall, land-use/cover and agro-ecological zones. The findings reveal that the countries with the most productive soils are Mauritius, Rwanda and South Sudan—while, for standing biomass, the countries with the highest spatial extent are Mauritius (97%), Rwanda (96%), Uganda (95%), South Sudan (89%), Ethiopia (47%) and Kenya (36%). Standing biomass is dominant in biomes such as natural forests, woodlands, croplands, grasslands, wetlands and tree-plantations. High land productivity was attributed to soil quality and management, land policy reforms, favourable climatic conditions and sustainable land husbandry activities. Rainfall was significantly correlated with standing biomass in most of the studied countries ( p < 0.05) except Djibouti and Rwanda. Therefore, monitoring soil health, use and land reforms are key to sustaining vegetative biomass.

Keywords: land productivity; SAVI; soil erosion; QGIS; soil fertility; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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