Ramakgwale Klaas Mampholo (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - South Africa)

1. SOIL PROGRAMME IN SOUTH AFRICA; IMPORTANCE
OF DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM
“4 PER 1000” AFRICA SYMPOSIUM ON SOILS FOR FOOD
SECURITY AND CLIMATE
BY
RAMAKGWALE MAMPHOLO
LAND USE AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES
24 OCTOBER 2018

2. LEGISLATIONS & POLICY
Constitution
Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 43 of 1983
Sub-division of Agricultural Land Act, 70 of 1970
Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill (PDALB)
Conservation Agriculture Policy
Active member of Global soil Partnership and other UN
Conventions to highlight importance of soil to all human endevours

3. CONSTITUTION
 Soil Conservation Function: Schedule 4 - Functional areas of
concurrent national and provincial legislative competence
 Soil Conservation is implemented as structured programmed
2 of Treasury guideline on organizational and strategic plan
 Therefore, has dedicated capacity of LandCare Programme,
soil conservation technicians and land use planning
 It also follows bottom up approach with well established
local based soil conservation / LandCare committees which
recognises that custodianship of soil is with the people who
use the land
 All this fundamental aspects are embedded in the white
paper of agriculture and LandCare principles
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4. IMPORTANCE OF SOIL FROM POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE VIEW
Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act : Objectives
To provide for the conservation of the natural agricultural
resources of the Republic by the maintenance of the
production potential of land, by the combating and
prevention of erosion
Soil priority of the act through various control measures: e.g.
(a) the cultivation of virgin soil;
(b) the utilization and protection of land which is cultivated;
(c) the irrigation of land;
(d) the prevention or control of waterlogging or salination of
land;
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5. WHY SOIL PROGRAMME?
Sustainability
Environment
Production potential:
Capability
Suitability
Resilience
Technology
Use of the
Resources
(management)
State of the
resources
Economic
Contribution to GDP
Social
Improved livelihoods Employment
Land
SOIL
INFORMATION

6. LANDCARE FOCUS AREAS
VELDCARE
JUNIORCARE
SOILCARE
WATERCARE
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

7. SOIL PROGRAMME IN THE CONTEXT OF UNCCD (LAND
DEGRDATION NEUTRALITY TARGETS)
Specific targets to avoid, minimize and reverse land degradation
 Improve productivity and SOC stocks in 6 000 000 hectares of
cropland by 2030
 Rehabilitate and sustainably manage 3 253 736 ha “forest”2 by 2030
 Rehabilitate and sustainably manage 358 100 ha of fynbos by 2030
 Rehabilitate and sustainably manage 1 499 400 ha of grassland 2030
 Rehabilitate and sustainably manage 1 149 600 ha of Succulent
Karoo by 2030
 Rehabilitate 61 900 ha of wetlands by 2030,
 Clear 1 063 897 ha of alien invasive species by 2030
 Clear 633 702 ha of bush encroached land by 2030, and
 Rehabilitate 350 000 ha of artificial areas by 2030.
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8. Updated in 2017 as
part of Global Soil
Partnership celebration
of world soil day
Over 11257 profile
samples used
Sample from 0-30 cm
of topsoil
More Carbon stock in
the Eastern part of RSA
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REVISED SOIL CARBON MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA

9. ARABLE LAND AVAILABILITY
LAND CAPABILITY 2016
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Land capability class 2016 Area - ha
Very low capability: 1 1 014 421.11
2 3 567 903.24
3 6 138 643.35
4 13 058 795.57
5 29 553 848.15
6 24 315 742.48
7 17 859 853.83
8 14 851 423.04
9 8 082 749.85
10 2 888 575.50
11 521 919.90
12 72 781.01
13 16 991.21
14 9 902.47
Very High capability: 15 4 013.33

10. CA IN RESTORATION, MITIGATION AND FOOD SECURITY NEXUS
Free State August 2014
Carbon loss avoidance, increase in carbon
sequestration and improved yield & food
security
Johannesburg 16 October
2014

11. Stage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Typeoffarmingsystem
Conv.
tillage
Min. or
reduced
tillage
Conv. no
tillage (NT)
(Direct
seeding
equipment
using tines).
Production
system lacks
adequate
soil cover
and sound
crop
rotations.
High use of
external
inputs
Conv. zero
tillage (ZT)
(Direct
seeding
equipment
using discs).
Production
system lacks
adequate soil
cover and
sound crop
rotations.
High use of
external
inputs
CAHEI
(NT or ZT
using high
quantities of
external
artificial
inputs (i.e.
fertilizer,
herbicides,
pesticides).
Production
system has
adequate soil
cover and
sound crop
rotations.
CALEI
(NT or ZT
using low
quantities of
external
artificial
inputs (i.e.
fertilizer,
herbicides,
pesticides).
Production
system has
above 80%
soil cover
and sound
crop
Organic CA
(ZT using
no external
artificial
inputs (i.e.
fertilizer,
herbicides,
pesticides).
Production
system has
adequate
soil cover
and sound
crop
rotations.
Sustainability gradient
CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE POLICY

12. Crop Yield Increase (Kg/Ha/Mg C)
30-50 million tons/yr in developing countries
CROP YIELD INCREASE WITH INCREASE IN SOC BY 1 MgC/ha
Lal (2005)
Maize 100 - 300
Soybeans 20 - 50
Wheat 20 - 70
Rice 10 - 50
Sorghum 80 - 140
Millet 30 - 70
Beans 30 - 60

13. High
LowMedium
Medium
Temperature
Moisture
Wet
Dry
Cool Hot
CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN SOIL(1.3-3.1PG/YR)

14. CURRENT STATUS OF SOIL DATA IN SOUTH AFRICA
• First surveys done in 1899
• National Landtype data base (1:250 000)
• Fixed site monitoring points - 2000
• Soil point data (DAFF & PDAs)
• PWV Soil survey / Western Cape Metropolitan survey (1:50 000)
• Irrigation Schemes (1:10 000)
• Digital Soil Mapping for 3 catchments
• Application (mining; developments; environmental assessments; fertilizer
companies)
• Farm Planning & Other individual surveys (MANY!!)
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15. Soil-related Databases at ARC-ISCW
• Land Type database (ArcGIS)
• Soil Profile database (MS Access)
• Western Cape & Gauteng soil database (ArcGIS)
• SoilDoc database (MS Access) – maps & reports
• Historical Map Archive – scanned images
• Rehabilitated coal mine soils (soil stockpiles)

18. ELEMENTS OF DRAFT STRATEGY FOR SOIL INFORMATION
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19. STANDARDS –
GOVERNMENT
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20. STANDARDS – GOVERNMENT
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21. STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES - DAFF
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22. CONCLUDING REMARKS
1. Finilise Comprehensive Soil information Strategy for South Africa
2. Improve on soil base data coordination and contributing custodians
3. Improve on allocation of dedicated funding & other resources
4. Improve on accessibility of soil data / information for all users in
particular smallholder farmers
5. Harmonise national soil survey standards and operating procedures
6. Promote soil research, tertiary education and pursue focused soil chair
7. Strengthen Monitoring and Evaluation
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