Soil crusting impact on soil organic carbon losses by water erosion

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

MAÏGA-YALEU, S.

Lab. of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), Univ., Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Lab. of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Inst. for Water and Environmental Engineering, Burkina Faso

GUIGUEMDE, I.

Lab. of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), Univ., Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

YACOUBA, H.

Lab. of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Inst. for Water and Environmental Engineering, Burkina Faso

KARAMBIRI, H.

Lab. of Hydrology and Water Resources, International Inst. for Water and Environmental Engineering, Burkina Faso

RIBOLZI, O.

Géosciences Environment Toulouse (GET), UMR 5563, IRD, Univ. Toulouse, UPS (OMP), CNRS, Toulouse, France

BARY, A.

Lab. of Analytical Chemistry, Radiochemistry and Electrochemistry (LACARE), Univ., Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

OUEDRAOGO, R.

Lab. of Physico Chemistry and Technology of Materials (LPCTM), Univ., Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

CHAPLOT, V.

IRD-BIOEMCO c/o School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Univ. KwaZul-Natalu, Scottsville, Afrique du Sud

Description :
This study was conducted in Tougou Catchment (northwest of Burkina Faso), characterized by sandy soils with varying types of surface crusts. The 4 different crust types studied were : structural crusts (STRU), which were found under cultivated soils, which were plowed annually; perennial desiccation crusts (DES), gravel (GRAV) and erosion (ERO) crusts, generally found in the degraded semi-arid savannas. Water and sediment samples were collected from the runoff plots after every rainfall event (n = 10) of the 2011 rainy season. The sediment samples were analyzed for organic carbon (OCsed), while the water samples were examined for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). This study pointed out a significant relationship between soils crusting on SOC erosion. It showed that the formation of loose and sandy crusts provides greater SOC protection from water erosion, which in turn may improve SOC stabilization and associated soil functions, such as soil fertility, water-holding capacity and sequestration of atmospheric carbon.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2013, vol. 107, p. 26-34, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 41 ref.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais