Abstract
Soil erosion and dam siltation are two serious environmental problems facing farmers in South Africa. The study aimed to assess farmers' perceptions on dam siltation and strategies employed to address it, and to assess the potential of sediment source tracing in a farming area in the north-west region of South Africa. Most of the dams in the study area were severely affected by siltation and the most important strategy used to address the problem was regular mechanical removal of the accumulated sediment. In relation to sediment tracing, lead-210 (210Pb) was found to be a more effective tracer than caesium-137 (137Cs) for distinguishing between surface and subsurface sediment sources. On the other hand, magnetic susceptibility offered better distinction of the sediment sources than magnetic remanence. Mass balance modelling indicated that 100% of the sampled sediment dam 1 originated from surface sources. The results reflect the complexity of sediment mobilisation processes influenced by the nature and spatial distribution of rainfall and runoff connectivity in the catchments.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
