Current Progress/Outcomes:
Progress: Against the planned objectives and key indicators outlined in the project proposal, the project has been progressing smoothly according to the original schedule, successfully achieving the mid-term goals and all assessment indicators. Since the kick-off meeting, through numerous discussions and exchanges, the Chinese and Nigerian teams have completed the establishment of slope and watershed soil erosion observation experiments. Both parties have collected historical data from the study areas, conducted data consolidation, analysis, and summarization, leading to a preliminary clarification of the soil erosion change characteristics and key driving factors in different typical agricultural systems (Task 1). Multi-scale soil erosion hotspot identification experiments and evaluation experiments for soil and water conservation measures on sloping farmland based on radionuclide tracing have been set up. A preliminary environmental isotope technique for identifying multi-scale soil erosion hotspots in typical agricultural systems has been developed (Task 2). Research and development have been initiated on evaluation techniques for soil erosion redistribution on sloping farmland based on environmental radionuclide tracing (Task 3). The Chinese team conducted six field investigations to the Jiangou Watershed in Shunyi, Beijing, the Liudaogou Watershed in Yulin, and the Falaigou Watershed in Guangxi. Sampling has been completed for Fallout Radionuclides (FRNs: ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pbₑₓ, and ⁷Be) on slopes and for Compound-Specific Stable Isotope (CSSI) analysis of sources and sediments in the watershed. A core demonstration area has been preliminarily established in the Jiangou Agricultural Watershed (Task 4). The Nigerian team conducted three investigations to 2 tropical rainforest agricultural systems and 4 slopes, collecting FRN samples. These samples were analyzed by the Chinese team. The measurement of FRN activities and some CSSI samples has been completed, while other indicators for the remaining experiments are currently undergoing testing.
Achievements: To date, the project has published 4 SCI papers (Q1 Top journals) and 2 core Chinese journal papers, all acknowledging the project as the primary funding source. Three invention patents have been applied for, one utility model patent, and three software copyrights have been successfully registered. The core demonstration area in the Jiangou Agricultural Catchment has been initially established. An online training session on "Radionuclide Theory and Sampling Strategies" was held on July 31, 2024, training 47 Nigerian researchers. A hybrid (onlineoffline) training session on "Practical Techniques and Modeling of Soil Erosion Assessment using Environmental Radionuclides" was conducted on November 15, 2024, training 73 Nigerian personnel. Between September and December 2024, five Nigerian scientists, including Professor Oshunsanya, were invited to China for a three-month exchange visit. During this period, two on-site training sessions were held covering radionuclide theory, experimental design, and monitoring point sampling methods. The project has contributed to the training of two Chinese postgraduate students and three Nigerian PhD students. The principal investigators from both countries participated in the 2024 China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Hubei Provincial People's Government. During this forum, witnessed by Mr. Yang Zhenhai, Party Secretary of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Professor Lizl Korssen, President of the African Academy of Sciences, the "China-Nigeria Joint Laboratory for Soil and Water Conservation and Sustainable Development," jointly established by the Chinese side and the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, was inaugurated. The joint laboratory also joined the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance.
