Agricultural land is the main source of stream sediments after conversion of an African montane forest.

ABSTRACT: In many parts of Africa, soil erosion is an important problem, which is evident from high sediment yields in tropical montane streams. Previous studies in Kenya pointed to a large contribution from catchments cultivated by smallholder farmers. This led to the hypothesis that unpaved tracks and gullies are the main sediment sources in smallholder agriculture catchments of the highlands of Kenya. The aim of this study was to investigate the sediment sources with sediment fingerprinting to generate the knowledge base to improve land management and to reduce sediment yields. Four main sediment sources (agricultural land, unpaved tracks, gullies and channel banks) and suspended sediments were analysed for biogeochemical elements as potential tracers. To apportion the catchments target sediment

SUBMITTER: Stenfert Kroese J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7481190 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature