A field assessment of land use systems and soil properties at varied landscape positions in a fragile ecosystem of Mount Elgon, Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this field study was to identify and characterize land use systems at varied spatial hierarchies, and to differentiate soil properties along varied landscape positions. Key data about existing land use systems and soil properties were systematically collected in 12 sites. Topographic profiles across catchment and geomorphic units were identified to show the relation typical of a mountain ecosystem. We found statistically significant differences (p < .05) in soil properties along altitudinal gradients in 52% of the samples and also in land use and land cover distribution characteristics along the slope gradients. The most dominant soils were sandy loam on the hillslopes and clay loams at the footslopes; and most of the cultivated fields were located on slopes ranging from 0 to 17%. The livestock production system was based on a small constructed unit with a capacity to enable feed resources. Soil conservation practices that were evident among the study sites included the use of mulching, hedgerows, intercropping, fallowing, and minimum tillage. Deep empirical knowledge of this system will further advance our understanding on how a fragile ecosystem responds to both natural and human-caused change, and its associated impact on the surrounding environment.

A Scalable Field Study Protocol and Rationale for Passive Ambient Air Sampling: A Spatial Phytosampling for Leaf Data Collection

“…Previous work in sampling designs for environmental monitoring informed the novel spatial phytosampling for leaf data collection. 71–77 …”

“…The spatial distribution of final sample sites is representative of emission hotspots and key exposure factors (Figure ). Previous work in sampling designs for environmental monitoring informed the novel spatial phytosampling for leaf data collection. − …”

Smallholder Farmers' Local Practices Underpinning the Use of Agroforestry Technologies in Uganda's Mt. Elgon Region

“…In this study, 12 smallholder farmers were purposively selected based on the following four parameters: (1) The smallholder farmer had ever attended agroforestry training sessions; the assumption was that these had acquired knowledge to transform from their conventional agroforestry practices (2) The smallholder farmer had integrated at least one of the three popular agroforestry technologies in the region (boundary planting, intercropping, and woodlot), (3) The smallholder farmer owned land on which they were practicing agroforestry; hence the flexibility in implementing agroforestry technologies and modifying them for any intended purpose, and (4) The smallholder farmer had integrated local practices in the agroforestry system. A smallholder farmer who ticked the above parameters was presumed to be knowledgeable and experienced enoughaspects necessary in decision-making during the implementation of agroforestry (Hockett & Richardson, 2018;Oyana et al, 2015). Priority was given to smallholder farmers who were interested, willing, and had time to participate in the study.…”

How Can Drones Uncover Land Degradation Hotspots and Restoration Hopespots? An Integrated Approach in the Mount Elgon Region with Community Perceptions

“…A shift from perennial to annual crops is notable due to the short growth cycle and strong market demand, pushing farmers towards this transition [53]. Moreover, a trend of mixed farming within perennial crop fields is evident in the area [17,54]. Increasing homesteads signify a growing population [24] and ongoing land fragmentation, connected by multiple road trails [32,36].…”