From 29 to 30 August 2026, we conducted a field trip in Nyamasheke District, Western Rwanda, to recover the soil bioweathering probes that had been installed in September 2025 and to collect additional soil samples.
The probes were installed at two different locations within Nyamasheke District. Two probes were placed in a traditional banana plantation at the residence of a family with cases of podoconiosis. This site is being studied to investigate whether soil properties may be associated with the occurrence of the disease. Additional probes were installed in a nearby eucalyptus forest to study and compare soil processes under different environmental conditions.
During this field campaign, we also collected soil samples at different depths—2, 15, and 30 cm—to provide a more detailed understanding of the soil profile and its composition.
The collected samples will be analysed in laboratories in France by our collaborators, Dr. Bastien Wild and Sylvain Barayagwiza. The results will contribute to a better understanding of soil composition and soil processes in Western Rwanda and support the broader objectives of our research on the relationship between the environment, climate change, and health.
