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Assessing the Impacts of Riparian Land Use on Gully Development and Sediment Load: a Case Study of Nzhelele River Valley, Limpopo Province, South Africa

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Assessing the Impacts of Riparian Land Use on Gully Development and Sediment Load: a Case Study of Nzhelele River Valley, Limpopo Province, South Africa Assessing the impacts of riparian land use on gully development and sediment load: A Case study of Nzhelele River valley, Limpopo Province, South Africa By Mavhuru Blessing University of Venda November 2015 Assessing the impacts of riparian land use on gully development and sediment load: A Case study of Nzhelele River valley, Limpopo Province, South Africa By Mavhuru, Blessing Student Number: 11605726 Sign: ……………… Date….……... A Masters Research submitted to the School of Environmental Sciences, Department of Geography & Geo-Information Sciences, University of Venda Supervisor: Dr. N.S. Nethengwe Sign: ………………Date………….. Co-supervisor: Mr. F. Dondofema Sign: ………………Date……….… November 2015 i DECLARATION I, Mavhuru Blessing, hereby declare that the dissertation for Masters degree in the Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Venda, hereby submitted by me, has not been submitted previously for a degree at this or any other University, that is my own work and that reference materials contained herein have been duly acknowledged. Student: Mavhuru Blessing Signature…………………………….. Date……………………………………… Supervisor: Dr. N. S. Nethengwe Signature…………………………….. Date………………………………………. Co-Supervisor: Mr. F. Dondofema. Signature……………………………. Date………………………………………. ii DEDICATION This research is dedicated to Francis Mberikwazvo Mavhuru and Margaret Chipangura who helped me to have this opportunity and which has elevated me to where I am. It has never slumbered throughout my academic journey and has miraculously positioned me for greatness. Not forgetting also my close friend S. N, Chisora. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and most importantly my sincere honour and gratitude goes Doctor N.S. Nethengwe and Mr F. Dondofema who has supported and motivated me through ups and downs. Secondly I am indebted to my erudite supervisors again whose au fait propelled the research in the most sensible direction. They were meticulous with the finest details and imposed meaning in the research as they were true avatar of the idea. To my work supervisor and mentors I owe the success of this research to you I also wish to thank Mr Mokgeobo, Mr Kori, Mr Chokoore and the many people who made provisions for this research to be a success. Also my sincere gratitude goes to my friends, Osidele. J, Khori. E, Sally Ibeh, Tunde Durowoju and Mukgoebo not forgetting and King Solomon Eghosa To my sisters and brothers Charles, Beladine, Tanaka, Chris, Miranda, Christopher, Tinevimbo, Prince, Ngoni, Fleance, Wadzanai Chabikwa, Chabata, and many others who have stuck with me through the difficult times, your encouragement was nothing but uplifting and your true friendship refined my vision and goals. To Mr Francis Mavhuru, you have forever believed in my dreams and have supported me like a true confidant. To my mothers, Mrs Margaret Chipangura you are the first in my heart and forever will be. My brother Luck, may you be blessed for all that you continue doing. To my sisters Mrs Sithole, and Mrs Madziwa you have stood by me and you continue to do so with no reservations. Thanks heaven, Shamiso, Ollen, Batsirai, Adonis, and Brenda Mavhuru, you are so dear to me and may your lives be greater than what you dream of. iv ABSTRACT Human activities on land degradation have triggered several environmental problems especially in rural areas that are under developed. The main aim of this study is to analyse the contribution of different land uses to gully development and sediment load on the Nzhelele River Valley in the Limpopo Province. Data was collected using different methods such as observation, field data techniques and experiments. Satellite digital images, topographic maps, aerial photographs and the sediment load static model also assisted in determining how land use affects gully development and sediment load. For data analysis, the researcher used the following methods: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and statistical correlation methods. The results of the research illustrates that high land use activities create negative changes especially in areas that are highly fragile and vulnerable. Distinct impact on land use change was observed within settlement area (9.6 %) within a period of 5 years. High correlation between soil organic matter and soil moisture (R=0.96) was observed. Furthermore a significant variation (p ≤ 0.6) between the soil organic matter and soil moisture was also observed. A very significant variation (p ≤ 0.003) was observed in bulk density and extreme significant variations (p ≤ 0.0001) were observed in organic matter and soil particle size. The sand mining and agricultural activities has contributed significantly to the amount of sediment load in the Nzhelele River. A high significant amount of total suspended sediment (55.3 %) and bed load (53.8 %) was observed within the agricultural area. The connection which associates the development of gullies to various land use activities determines the amount of sediment load. These results are consistent with other previous research and suggest that land use activities is likely to exacerbate the development of gullies and sediment load in the Nzhelele River Valley Key words: land degradation, riparian land use, gully development, sediment load, geomophological processes, and drainage basin. v Table of contents Contents Page DECLARATION .....................................................................................................................ii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the study ........................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Statement of the problem ......................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research aim and objectives ................................................................................................... 5 1.3.1 Research Aim ..................................................................................................................... 5 1.3.2. Research Objectives ......................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Research Questions .................................................................................................................. 5 1.6 Delimitation of the study and description of the study area ................................................ 7 1.6.1 Delimitation of the study .................................................................................................... 7 1.6.2 Description of the study area ............................................................................................ 7 Figure 1.4 Land use ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Definition of key terms ............................................................................................................ 11 1.8 Structure of the Dissertation .................................................................................................. 12 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 14 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Land use and land use change ............................................................................................. 14 2.2.1 Impact of land use on river ecosystem ......................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Functional aspects of land use ....................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Past land use and climate changes ............................................................................... 16 2.2.4 Present land use changes .............................................................................................. 18 2.3 Dictating land use and land cover change using GIS ........................................................ 18 2.3.1 Land use and land cover dictation ................................................................................. 18 2.4 Soil structure and Sediment load .......................................................................................... 20 2.4.1 Soil composition and geomorphology ........................................................................... 20 2.4.2 Sediment production ........................................................................................................ 21 2.5 Human impacts on soil erosion ............................................................................................
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