Evaluating Ethnopedological Knowledge Systems for Classifying Soil Quality. A Case Study in Bo Hamlet with Muong People of Northern Vietnam |
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Authors: | NGUYEN DAI TRUNG ANN VERDOODT MICHIEL DUSAR TRAN TAN VAN ERIC VAN RANST |
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Institution: | 1. Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, Km 9 +200, Chien Thang Road, Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.;2. Laboratory of Soil Science, Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B‐9000 Ghent, Belgium.;3. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Geological Survey of Belgium, Jennerstraat 13, B‐1000 Brussels, Belgium. |
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Abstract: | Ethnopedological knowledge is incorporated in a case study for sustainable land management of mountain karst areas in Vietnam. The research is based on a multidisciplinary approach, including participation of local inhabitants for identifying and classifying local indicators of soil quality, next to scientifically sound approaches to soil quality assessment based on analytical soil data and a statistical treatment of the results. The case study focuses on Bo hamlet, located in the Ngo Luong commune of the Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province. The participatory approach reveals that local people of the Muong ethnic group distinguish seven land use types and six soil types. They also identified nine local indicators of soil quality: presence of earthworms; crop productivity; topsoil colour; presence of a humus layer; soil surface compaction; erosion; slope gradient; surface water, and soil moisture status. Based on this indigenous knowledge, 19 soil samples from nine soil profiles in Bo hamlet were analysed for fertility indicators. Laboratory results confirmed the validity of indigenous knowledge for identifying and classifying local indicators of soil fertility, compared to scientific standards of soil quality. |
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Keywords: | soil quality assessment participatory approach land degradation mountain karst Muong people Vietnam |
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