TITLE:
Evaluation of Agricultural Practices Scenarios for Reducing Erosion in Buyo Lake Catchment (Sassandra; Côte d’Ivoire) by Use of GIS
AUTHORS:
Jean-Jacques Tanoh Koua, Armand Kouao Anoh, Drissa Tanina Soro, Jean Kan Kouame, Roger Jean Patrice Jourda
KEYWORDS:
Agricultural Practices, Soil Erosion, Scenarios, Buyo Lake Catchment, Côte d’Ivoire
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.7 No.7,
July
26,
2019
ABSTRACT: This
study has used RUSLE model factors within a GIS component to evaluate eroded
soil and developed viable agricultural practices scenarios to reduce soil loss
in Buyo Lake catchment in the Western region of Côte d’Ivoire. Consequently, five study cases were tested as following: scenario 1—association
of dense forest and crops with a high percentage of mulch; scenario 2—corn and sorghum combination by
considering a high yield without conventional tillage; scenario 3—establishment of an herbaceous
meadow; and scenario 4—association of palm, coffee, and
cocoa with green cover. Scenario P was the setting up of straw mulch after corn or sorghum harvest. The
erosion map resulting from these study cases showed by estimation, an average
of soil loss of about 95 t/ha/year. The respective values obtained for the scenarios 1, 2 and 3 are 28 t/ha/year, 66 t/ha/year and 30
t/ha/year. This indicates a decrease of 68%. By scenario 4, the estimated
average was 2 t/ha/year corresponding to a decrease of 98%. The combination of
scenario 2 with scenario P gave soil losses average of 5 t/ha/year, i.e. a 95% reduction. This study shows that the association of palm, coffee, and cocoa with green cover would be very
effective in reducing soil loss.