ISSN 2756-343X
Global Journal of Food and Agribusiness Management ISSN 2756-343X Vol. 3 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2012. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Different land use types in the semi-arid rangelands of Kenya influence soil properties
Kevin Z. Mganga1*, Nashon K. R. Musimba1, Dickson M. Nyariki1, Moses M. Nyangito2, Wellington N. Ekaya3, William M. Muiru4 and Agnes, W. Mwang’ombe4
1Department of Range & Wildlife Sciences, South Eastern University College (SEUCO), P. O. BOX 170-90200, Kitui, Kenya.
2Department of Land Resources Management & Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi
3RUFORUM, P. O. BOX 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
4Department of Plant & Crop Science, University of Nairobi, P. O. BOX 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
Accepted 27 October, 2011
Abstract
Rangelands in semi-arid Kenya have recently witnessed extensive land use changes. These changes can mainly be attributed to increased livestock populations and the response of the increased human population to both local and exogenous opportunities and constraints. This study was carried out in Kibwezi district of Kenya mainly inhabited by agro-pastoralists. The main objective of this study was to establish how different land use types influence soil properties in tropical semi-arid rangelands. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples from three land use types namely cultivated land (CL), grazing land (GL) and fallow land (FL) at a depth of 15-30cm were collected and analyzed using standard laboratories for soil nutrients and soil physical properties. Results show open grazing lands (CEC 19.59 meq/100g) to be more fertile than cultivated (13.88 meq/100g) and fallow (6.40 meq/100g) lands. This was attributed to the continuous dropping of faecal material by grazing livestock. Higher bulk density in grazing land (1.36 g/cm3) compared to cultivated and fallow lands with 1.29 g/cm3 and 1.33 g/cm3 was attributed to the hoof action of livestock. These results suggest that different land use types in the semi-arid rangelands contribute immensely to soil properties.
Key words: Bulk density, cation exchange capacity (CEC), drylands, grazing lands, Kibwezi district, livestock.