Effects of Land Degradation in the uplands on Land use Changes in the Plains: The case study of Chimala River Catchment in the Usangu plains
| dc.contributor.author | Mwalukasa, Emmanuel Hudson | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-07-31T05:38:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-07-31T05:38:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2002 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | A study was carried out in Chimala River catchment in Makete-Iringa (uplands) and Mbarali-Mbeya (plains), Tanzania to relate land use changes occurring in the plains to upland degradation. The objectives of this study were: (a) to establish land use/cover inventory for the catchment; (b) to assess upland vegetation degradation; (c) to assess upland soil erosion by gully expansion; (d) to assess catchment soil fertility status; (e) to assess the Chimala River water flow trend; and (f) to assess the socio-economic activities related to land degradation. Aerial photographs and satellite images were used, interpreted and analysed using GIS ArcView/ArcINFO and ERDAS Imagine softwares. Mean monthly water levels were compared using a student t-Test. Soil samples were collected from four different forest-covers for organic carbon (OC) content analyses. Total nitrogen (N) contents were estimated using C:N ratios. A structured questionnaire and SPSS programme were used to collect and analyse socio-economic survey data. Results showed that upland grassland decreased by 3.6% and 45.8% for 1963-77 and 1977-2001 periods respectively due to extending cultivation activities. On the scarp, dense and open woodlands decreased by 56.2% and 4.6% respectively for 1963-77 while for 1977- 2001 dense woodland decreased by 100% due to firewood collection; open woodland increased by 21.2% through regeneration. Gully erosion expanded by 206% between 1963 and 1977 because of poor land management but decreased by 69% for 1977-2001 through natural recovery and afforestation. Consequently upland vegetation degradation and gully erosion caused soil transfer from the mountains and deposition in the plains. About 0.4% (1977) and 0.6% (2001) of the catchment area under irrigation were abandoned to bushland due to siltation problems. River valleyiii soils in the plains indicated adequate OC (3.4%) due to alluvial deposition thus attracting more agricultural activities. Low OC (0.61-1.09%) indicated low N (0.06- 0.11%) as a limiting factor for paddy rice production in upper areas of the plains. No significant variations (P<0.05) in the stream flows of Chimala River were observed between 1960 and 1993 as a result of upland degradation. It is therefore concluded that upland degradation has contributed significantly to land use changes/degradation occurring in the plains that calls for more efforts to safeguard land resources in the uplands by concerned stakeholders | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The National Agricultural Extension Project (NAEP | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6352 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Land Degradation | |
| dc.subject | Uplands | |
| dc.subject | Plains | |
| dc.subject | Chimala River | |
| dc.subject | Usangu plains | |
| dc.title | Effects of Land Degradation in the uplands on Land use Changes in the Plains: The case study of Chimala River Catchment in the Usangu plains | |
| dc.type | Thesis |