Linking crop structure, throughfall, soil surface conditions, runoff and soil detachment: 10 land uses analyzed in Northern Laos

In montane Southeast Asia, deforestation and unsuitable combinations of crops and agricultural practices degrade soils at an unprecedented rate. Typically, smallholder farmers gain income from “available” land by replacing fallow or secondary forest by perennial crops. The aim of this study (M-TROPICS/MSEC) was to understand how these practices increase or reduce soil erosion.

The paper was published in October 2017 in Science of the Total Environment and it is available here.

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Exploring the nexus between hydroclimatic variability, population growth, land use land cover change, and long-term upper Nyong Basin River chemistry (Central Africa rainforest)

Hydrological and hydrogeochemical functioning of rivers depends on the relationship between climatic variability, land use and land cover change (LULCC), and population dynamics. However, there is a scientific gap on this relationship in the humid tropical zone of Central Africa. This study, led by David Eric Komba, aims to fill this gap by examining the […]

A float-controlled self-contained laser gauge for monitoring river levels in tropical environments

In this paper Dr Pierret and colleagues present the design, construction and performance of a self-contained float-controlled water level gauge for monitoring water levels in streams and small rivers. This device is inexpensive (cost of about EUR 220), easy to build (no electronics skills or specialized tools required; assembled in a few hours) and straightforward […]

Reuse of bottom sediment from reservoirs to cropland is a promising agroecological practice that must be rationalized

In semi-arid areas, intermittent streams are often equipped with small reservoirs to store water for irrigation and/or groundwater recharge, and to capture sediments lost through erosion. These reservoirs must be periodically desilted to maintain their storage capacity. While bottom sediments are generally considered waste, their reuse in agricultural fields is a centuries-old practice in India. […]

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