Sediment and nutrient loads into river Lwiro, in the Lake Kivu basin, Democratic Republic of Congo

Bagalwa, Mashimango; Majaliwa, Jgm; Kansiime, Frank; Bashwira, S; Tenywa, M.M.; Karume, Katcho

doi:10.4314/ijbcs.v9i3.46

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Throughout the literature, soil erosion is washing away 945,200 tons of organic materials, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash each year [67]. Challengingly, the amount of nutrients per unit weight of eroded soil is about three times higher than the nutrients in the remaining soil [68], agriculture being the main contributor to nutrients found in the Sebeya River [69]. In addition, the eroded sediments in the Sebeya River cause scouring on bridges, add pollutants to the river, and cause abrasion on hydropower turbines [13].…”

Section: Sediments and Nutrients Dynamics In The Sebeya Watershedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2023

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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.

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Section: Sediments and Nutrients Dynamics In The Sebeya Watershedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2023

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“…The Goma and Bukavu regions are located within town (urban area) in northern and southern part of the lake at 1˚41.58'S, 29˚22.690'E and 2˚29.817'S, 28˚51.558'E respectively. The land use/cover in these areas is mainly characterized by built-up area (settlement) [44]. The areas are densely populated with high transportation activities.…”

Section: Description Of Study Area and Sampling Stationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-Temporal Variation of Atmospheric Nutrient Deposition in Different Land Uses/Covers around Lake Kivu

Bagalwa¹,

Majaliwa²,

Bootsma³

et al. 2021

JWARP

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Atmospheric deposition of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus has the capacity to significantly affect the productivity and biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of land use/cover types on the atmospheric deposition of nutrients around Lake Kivu. Dry and wet atmospheric deposition samples were collected from four different land use/cover types (forest, wetland, agricultural and urbanized area) at four stations (Goma, Lwiro, Bukavu and Iko) around the Lake Kivu basin. The highest annual loading of dry total phosphorus (TP) was recorded at a station located in an urban area at Goma (4.4 ± 3.9 µmol/m 2 /yr) and the highest dry deposition of total nitrogen (TN) was recorded at Iko (84.5 ± 41.2 µmol/m 2 /yr). High wet TP and TN were at Bukavu (0.7 ± 1.1 µmol/m 2 /yr) and Iko (21.7 ± 34.7 µmol/m 2 /yr) respectively. High dry TP loads were recorded in the forest area of Goma and the highest dry TN at Lwiro. High wet TP loads were record in agriculture at Goma and high values of wet TN in agriculture at Iko. Phosphorus and nitrogen deposition rates around Lake Kivu were similar to those reported for other African lakes. The highest rate of TP was recorded mainly in the forest area for dry deposition while high TN was recorded in all types of land use/cover in the basin. This study found out that forest traps high concentration of nutrient than other land uses/covers.

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“…Nutrients lost from agricultural fields due to soil erosion, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, become common pollutants in waterbodies and are largely responsible for what is known as "eutrophication". Eutrophication is a process in which excess fertility in a waterbody leads to excessive plant growth, low dissolved oxygen, bad odors and the production of toxic substances by blue-green algae which may cause human diseases or kill fishes and other aquatic animals [19] [20] [21].…”

Section: Nutrients Loading Rates In Sebeya Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increase of nutrients in Sebeya river is directly linked with the presence of sediments. Nutrients are mainly associated with agricultural effluent [19]. It is very necessary to treat water and make water sources suitable for human consumption through the removal and killing of pathogenic organisms and removal of the taste, smell, and other undesirable chemical and physical constituents.…”

Section: Estimation Of Nutrients (Npk) In Sebeya Rivermentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment Transport and Its Impacts on Lake Kivu, Gihira Water Treatment Plant and Various Hydropower Plants along Sebeya River in Rwanda

Majoro¹,

Wali²,

Munyaneza³

et al. 2020

JWARP

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Complex processes of sediment transport in a river impact on overall aquatic system and result in the productivity decrease of socioeconomic development projects taking the river as a source of water. The present study was designed to estimate Sebeya river sediment load and assess its impacts on Lake Kivu, Gihira water treatment plant and various hydropower plants constructed in Sebeya catchment located in Western Province of Rwanda. Water samples were hand-collected from five different sampling points along Sebeya river during rainy and dry seasons. Laboratory analysis for turbidity, total suspended solids, sieve analysis for bed load materials and NPK content of water samples were conducted. The results revealed that the average turbidity was found to be high during rainy season compared to dry season. The same trend was found in total suspended solids concentrations. At all 5 sampling sites and during rainy season compared to dry season, the average mass flowrates of bed load materials were 7.84 and 2.96 kg/hr respectively. Sieve analysis results showed that all bed load sediments were mainly composed of high proportions of fine sand of more than 70% which adversely causes damages on hydropower turbines and the effect of high soil erosion rates on Gihira water treatment plant was traduced by high turbidity of raw water and excessive costs of reagents. At Sebeya outlet, nutrients load and high turbidity reduce significantly the aesthetic quality of Lake Kivu, having a harmful impact on recreation and tourism, aquatic life

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Sediment and nutrient loads into river Lwiro, in the Lake Kivu basin, Democratic Republic of Congo

Cited by 7 publications

References 21 publications

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

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

Spatio-Temporal Variation of Atmospheric Nutrient Deposition in Different Land Uses/Covers around Lake Kivu

Sediment Transport and Its Impacts on Lake Kivu, Gihira Water Treatment Plant and Various Hydropower Plants along Sebeya River in Rwanda

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