Spatial Variability of Selected Soil Properties in Relation to Different Land Uses in Northern Kgalagadi (Matsheng), Botswana

Totolo, Otlogetswe; Mosweu, Samuel

doi:10.4236/ijg.2012.34066

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…If we compare these values to the different regions of Botswana, it becomes clear that the precipitation is higher in the northern regions of the country, and in the southern along the river of Limpopo. The study of soil properties is important for environmental and landscape research [101][102][103][104][105], as soil systems directly affects the plant health through linked interactions. Thus, the variations in soil moisture indicate the environmental health of the ecosystems and dynamics in land cover types.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Climate Parameters over the Territory of Botswana Using GMT and Gridded Surface Data from TerraClimate

Lemenkova

2022

IJGI

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This articles presents a new series of maps showing the climate and environmental variability of Botswana. Situated in southern Africa, Botswana has an arid to semi-arid climate, which significantly varies in its different regions: Kalahari Desert, Makgadikgadi Pan and Okavango Delta. While desert regions are prone to droughts and periods of extreme heat during the summer months, other regions experience heavy downpours, as well as episodic and unpredictable rains that affect agricultural activities. Such climatic variations affect social and economic aspects of life in Botswana. This study aimed to visualise the non-linear correlations between the topography and climate setting at the country’s scale. Variables included T °C min, T °C max, precipitation, soil moisture, evapotranspiration (PET and AET), downward surface shortwave radiation, vapour pressure and vapour pressure deficit (VPD), wind speed and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). The dataset was taken from the TerraClimate source and GEBCO for topographic mapping. The mapping approach included the use of Generic Mapping Tools (GMT), a console-based scripting toolset, which enables the use of a scripting method of automated mapping. Several GMT modules were used to derive a set of climate parameters for Botswana. The data were supplemented with the adjusted cartographic elements and inspected by the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL). The PDSI in Botswana in 2018 shows stepwise variation with seven areas of drought: (1) −3.7 to −2.2. (extreme); (2) −2.2 to −0.8 (strong, southern Kalahari); (3) −0.8 to 0.7 (significant, central Kalahari; (4) 0.7 to 2.1 (moderate); (5) 2.1 to 3.5 (lesser); (6) 3.5 to 4.9 (low); (7) 4.9 to 6.4 (least). The VPD has a general trend towards the south-western region (Kalahari Desert, up to 3.3), while it is lower in the north-eastern region of Botswana (up to 1.4). Other values vary respectively, as demonstrated in the presented 12 maps of climate and environmental inventory in Botswana.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Climate Parameters over the Territory of Botswana Using GMT and Gridded Surface Data from TerraClimate

Lemenkova

2022

IJGI

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“…The Classification of coefficient of variation (CV) is an indicator to evaluate the level of divergence of the probability distribution, and in general, the greater the divergence, the greater the coefficient of variation. CV according to related studies ( 23 ). If the CV is less than 0.16 the element is in mild variability, if the CV is greater than 0.16 less than 1 it is in moderate variability, and if the CV is greater than 1 it is in high variability.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of sources and potential risks of cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and arsenic in agricultural soils in a rapidly urbanizing region of southwest China: the case of Chengdu

Huang,

Gou,

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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Rapid urbanization a major factor affecting heavy metal contamination on suburban agricultural soils. In order to assess the dynamic contamination of heavy metals in soil from agricultural land bordering a rapidly urbanizing area and the transfer of human health risks from contaminants in this process, 186 and 293 soil samples from agricultural land in suburban Chengdu were collected in September 2008 and September 2017, respectively. Several indicators, such as the integrated pollution index (PI) and the potential ecological risk index (RI), were employed for analyzing the heavy metal contamination levels, and the APCS-MLR receptor model were applied for analyzing the heavy metal sources. As a result, mean concentrations for five elements did not exceed the national soil pollution risk screening values in the two periods mentioned above. Nemerow’s composite contamination index revealed an increase in soil contamination of arable land after 10 years of urbanization, with 3.75 and 1.02% of light and moderate sample plots, respectively, by 2017. The assessment for potential ecological risk indicated an increased level of eco-risk to high for most of the sample plots. Based on the APCS-MLR model, the origin and contribution to the five elements varied considerably between the two periods mentioned above. Among them, soil Pb changed from “industrial source” to “transportation source,” soil Cr changed from “natural source” to “transportation source,” and As and Hg changed from “industrial source” to “transportation source.” As and Hg were associated with agricultural activities in both periods, and Cd was derived from industrial activities in both periods. The study suggests that inhalation has become a major contributor to non-cancer health risks in urbanization, unlike intake routes in previous periods, and that the increase in cancer risk is mainly due to children’s consumption of agricultural products with As residues. The change in the main source of As to “transportation” also indicates a decrease in air quality during urbanization and the development of the transportation industry. This study provides a reference for the governments of rapidly urbanizing cities to formulate relevant highway and agricultural policies to safeguard the health of the people based on the current situation.

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Spatial Variability of Selected Soil Properties in Relation to Different Land Uses in Northern Kgalagadi (Matsheng), Botswana

Cited by 2 publications

References 5 publications

Mapping Climate Parameters over the Territory of Botswana Using GMT and Gridded Surface Data from TerraClimate

Mapping Climate Parameters over the Territory of Botswana Using GMT and Gridded Surface Data from TerraClimate

Quantification of sources and potential risks of cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and arsenic in agricultural soils in a rapidly urbanizing region of southwest China: the case of Chengdu

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