Despite long-standing efforts in terracing, limited field-based evidence of its effectiveness as implemented within rural farming systems of humid tropical regions, such as Rwanda, is available. This study aimed to reveal regional differences in effectiveness of two widely used terracing techniques. Traditional slope farming (NP) was compared to bench (BT) and farmers’ based progressive terraces (PT) in terms of runoff, soil losses, and topsoil fertility in two contrasting agro-ecological zones, the Eastern Plateau (Murehe) and Buberuka Highlands (Tangata). During four consecutive rainy seasons, event-based data were collected using erosion plots (5 m width x 22.2 m length). Effectiveness indices of both terracing systems, as well as (R)USLE P-factor values, were calculated. The annual average soil losses under NP ranged from 4.71 ± 5.02 ton ha⁻¹ to 46.01 ± 7.28 ton ha⁻¹ in Murehe (14% slope gradient) and Tangata (43% slope gradient), respectively. Bench terracing clearly outperformed the farmer-based progressive terrace at both locations, leading to negligible soil losses. In terms of runoff reduction, an effectiveness of 70 and 85% respectively, was observed at Murehe and Tangata. The effectiveness of PT reached 52% for runoff control and 93% for soil loss control at Tangata, thereby confirming its huge potential as erosion control measure, even in mountainous areas. In the hilly landscape of Murehe, the runoff generated by PT – in some years - can exceed that under traditional farming, while the measure reduced soil losses by half on average. Associated USLE P-factors varied between seasons with an annual average values of 0.001–0.02 for BT, and 0.07 to 0.55 for PT at Tangata and Murehe, respectively. These variations in performance by site and terracing system also resulted in differences in topsoil chemical fertility, with BT generally outperforming both PT and NP at Tangata. At Murehe, PT showed a significantly lower chemical fertility compared to BT and NP. Poor quality risers explained the overall lower performance of PT at Murehe. The study thus confirmed the huge potential of (bench) terraces to sustainably reduce soil erosion rates when established within an integrated approach, paying attention to correct installation and fertility-supporting agronomic practices. More attention should be given to riser installation (e.g. distance) and maintenance of PT. Adoption of these erosion control measures can be recommended to similar agro-ecological zones for sustainably protecting the lands while mitigating or adapting the effects of climate change.

尽管在梯田耕作方面进行了长期的努力，但在潮湿的热带地区（如卢旺达）的农村耕作系统中，实地证据表明其有效性。这项研究旨在揭示两种广泛使用的梯田技术在有效性方面的区域差异。在两个相反的农业生态区，东部高原（Murehe）和Buberuka高地，将传统坡耕法（NP）与长凳（BT）和农民基于渐进梯田（PT）的径流，土壤流失和表土肥力进行了比较。 （Tangata）。在连续四个雨季中，使用侵蚀图（5 m宽x 22.2 m长）收集了基于事件的数据。计算了两个梯田系统的有效性指数以及（R）USLE P因子值。NP下的年平均土壤流失量为4.71±5.02吨公顷^-1至46.01±7.28 ton ha ^-1在Murehe（坡度为14％）和Tangata（坡度为43％）中。在这两个地方，台阶式梯田明显优于基于农民的阶梯式梯田，导致土壤损失可忽略不计。就径流减少而言，在Murehe和Tangata分别观测到70％和85％的效率。在坦加塔，PT对径流控制的有效性达到了52％，对土壤流失的控制达到了93％，从而证实了其作为侵蚀控制措施的巨大潜力，即使在山区也是如此。在Murehe的丘陵景观中，PT产生的径流（在某些年份中）可能超过传统耕作下的径流，而该措施将土壤流失平均减少了一半。在每个季节，相关的USLE P因子各不相同，BT的年平均值为0.001-0.02，Tangata和Murehe的PT的年平均值分别为0.07至0.55。场地和梯田系统性能的这些变化还导致表土化学肥力的差异，而BT通常在Tangata上优于PT和NP。在Murehe，与BT和NP相比，PT的化学繁殖力明显较低。质量差的上升者解释了Murehe的PT总体表现较低。因此，该研究证实了（长凳）梯田在采用综合方法建立后可持续降低土壤侵蚀速率的巨大潜力，并注意正确的安装方式和支持肥力的农艺方法。应更加注意立管的安装（例如，距离）和PT的维护。