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Title: REMOTE SENSING APPLICATION AND MODELING SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN CROP LANDS OF MALI, WEST AFRICA.

Author
item Doraiswamy, Paul
item McCarty, Gregory
item Hunt Jr, Earle
item DOUMBIA, M - IER, BAMAKO, MALI
item Stern, Alan

Submitted to: International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2004
Publication Date: 9/20/2004
Citation: Doraiswamy, P.C., McCarty, G.W., Hunt, E.R., Doumbia, M., Stern, A.J. 2004. Remote sensing application and modeling soil carbon sequestration in crop lands of Mali, West Africa [abstract]. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium Proceedings. p. 3607-3608.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is a low-input low-output systems of agriculture which maintained Africa at subsistence levels. In addition, there are the associated problems of land degradation accelerated by low-input systems which has exceeded the resilience threshold of soils. The Carbon from Communities Project in Mali was carried out in several sites to study the potential for increasing levels of soil carbon and the potential for increasing soil quality to improve crop production. The objective of this research was to use satellite remotely sensed imagery for mapping current landuse and to assess impact of different land management on soil productivity and crop yields. High-resolution imagery was used to develop a landuse classification for the study area (8x 8 km) near Omarbougu. Ground truth data was acquired from site visits. Based on the classification, and available climate, soil texture, in-situ soil carbon measurements and crop statistics data, a soil carbon sequestration model was used to study the current and potential levels of soil carbon for the various landuse. Modeling techniques provided an opportunity to optimize production levels by adapting alternate management practices to predict potential levels of soil carbon sequestration in this region. The results from the study suggest that soil erosion contributed to the low levels of soil organic matter. Building a ridge system resulted in low soil erosion from excessive runoff, improving the soil quality and crop yields.