Publicaties

Moeyersons, J. 1990. ‘Soil loss by rainwash: a case study from Rwanda’. Zeitschrift für Geomorph. N. F 34/4: 385-408. Stuttgart : Gebrüder Borntraeger. ISSN: 0372_8854.  (PR).

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

Summary. A certain controversy exists about the seriousness of the erosion problem in Rwanda. Our .data, collected over a period of 10 years at Rwaza hill (Runyinya-Butare) support the opinion that erosion. by rainwash is very active. Especially cultivated fields undergo very considerable soil loss, estimated here at about 120 tons/ha/year on a convex slope element of 11° to 22°. Erosion pin measurements and data from collector trenches show: -a close relationship between soil use and soil loss; -a seasonal variation in soil loss rates; -a relationship between spatial erosion pattern and slope configuration; -a cyclic variation of colluviation and erosion in downslope direction; -a proportionally less important rainwash erosion effect for bigger rains; -the significance of the pluvial regime in terms of rainwash erosion..