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| Titel |
Qualitative soil moisture assessment in semi-arid Africa – the role of experience and training on inter-rater reliability |
| VerfasserIn |
M. Rinderer, H. C. Komakech, D. Müller, Guido L. B. Wiesenberg, J. Seibert |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1027-5606
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 19, no. 8 ; Nr. 19, no. 8 (2015-08-10), S.3505-3516 |
| Datensatznummer |
250120786
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-19-3505-2015.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Soil and water management is particularly relevant in semi-arid regions to
enhance agricultural productivity. During periods of water scarcity, soil
moisture differences are important indicators of the soil water deficit and
are traditionally used for allocating water resources among farmers of a
village community. Here we present a simple, inexpensive soil wetness
classification scheme based on qualitative indicators which one can see or
touch on the soil surface. It incorporates the local farmers' knowledge on
the best soil moisture conditions for seeding and brick making in the
semi-arid environment of the study site near Arusha, Tanzania. The scheme
was tested twice in 2014 with farmers, students and experts (April: 40 persons, June: 25 persons) for inter-rater reliability, bias of individuals
and functional relation between qualitative and quantitative soil moisture
values. During the test in April farmers assigned the same wetness class in
46 % of all cases, while students and experts agreed on about 60 % of all
cases. Students who had been trained in how to apply the method gained
higher inter-rater reliability than their colleagues with only a basic
introduction. When repeating the test in June, participants were given
improved instructions, organized in small subgroups, which resulted in a
higher inter-rater reliability among farmers. In 66 % of all
classifications, farmers assigned the same wetness class and the spread of
class assignments was smaller. This study demonstrates that a wetness
classification scheme based on qualitative indicators is a robust tool and
can be applied successfully regardless of experience in crop growing and
education level when an in-depth introduction and training is provided. The
use of a simple and clear layout of the assessment form is important for
reliable wetness class assignments. |
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