Author(s)

Jean Pierre Musabyimana^*, Jean de Dieu Bazimenyera

Department of irrigation and Drainage, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, Musanze, Rwanda.

The assessment of the impacts of converting natural wetlands to agricultural farms in Nyabugogo wetland was the main objective for this research. Considering the efficiency of agricultural activities management, operation and their maintenance in Kigali is essential to reduce the increasing environmental pollution, to raise production and to search for a sustainable method of environmental conservation, this research assesses the pollutant removal efficiency of agriculture such as crops and animal residues in order to enhance the sustainable agriculture development mainly physico-chemical characteristics and some biological characteristics and based on the preliminary assessment and review of existing literature on agriculture management systems for water resources and other environmental conservation concerns in Kigali, the research aims at contributing to the search of an appropriate agriculture management that is more efficient in terms of the increase in productivity, hence contributing to environmental sustainability. Six sampling sites were chosen in Nyabugogo wetland that is Nyabugogo, Karuruma, Kabuye (2 destinations), and Nyacyonga (2 destinations). Nyabugogo and Karuruma in the rural area, and Nyacyonga in the urban area, were chosen for the investigation of fecal coliforms. On the two first locations, Nyabugogo (80 cfu/100ml) and Karuruma (40 cfu/100ml), the study found low but not insignificant results. This is related to the dispersion of habitation in rural areas. Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) ranged from 178.1 mg/l to 179.9 mg/l at Site 1 (dry season) and subsequent test (rainy season) results ranged from 178 to 200 mg/l. The results showed different TDS in different test areas. The TDS was as low as 145.4 mg/l in the surface water of SP4 and as high as 179.9 mg/l in SP1, and in the second survey, the minimum value was 140.3 mg/l and the maximum value was 285 mg/l in SP3. Because the high turbidity levels seen along the river, in the Nyabugogo catchment, erosion protection measures should be implemented, including the use of terraces where there is agricultural activity and tree plantations, particularly at Nyabugogo sites. As a result, the Nyabugogo Riverbanks must be preserved. It would cut down on the quantity of sediment that ends up in waterways.

Physico-Chemical Parameters, Water Pollution, Wetland

Musabyimana, J. and de Dieu Bazimenyera, J. (2023) Assessment of the Impacts of Converting Natural Wetlands to Agricultural Farms. Case of Nyabugogo, Kigali City, Rwanda. Agricultural Sciences, 14, 422-431. doi: 10.4236/as.2023.143027.