COSTECH Integrated Repository

Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Soils of Busia County, Western Kenya: soil Morphology, Physico-chemical Properties, Classification and Fertility Trends

Show simple item record

dc.creator Kebeney, S. J
dc.creator Semoka, J. M. R
dc.creator Msanya, B. M
dc.creator Ng’etich, W. K
dc.date 2022-05-11T06:50:05Z
dc.date 2022-05-11T06:50:05Z
dc.date 2014-06-24
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-25T08:52:57Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-25T08:52:57Z
dc.identifier 2320-7035
dc.identifier https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4103
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/93185
dc.description Standard soil survey was carried out in Western Kenya to establish representative research sites on the basis of landforms and other physiographic attributes. Soil profiles were characterized at Emalomba (Nambale District) designated (EMA-P1) and at Bukhalalire (Butula District) named BUMA-P1. Both pedons formed from in-situ weathering of granitic rocks under ustic moisture and iso-hyperthermic temperature regimes. Fourteen soil samples from genetic horizons were analyzed for physico-chemical properties. Both pedons had dark brown sandy clay and sandy clay loam topsoils overlying dominantly clayey subsoils. Both pedons indicate clay eluviation-illuviation as adominant pedogenic process with strong acidic soil conditions and available phosphorus of < 7 mg/kg soil. Organic carbon (OC) is high in EMA-P1 and medium to very low in BUMA-P1 while total nitrogen is medium and low to very low. EMA-P1 and BUMA-P1 have C/N ratios of 8.6 - 9.6 and 12.9 - 24.8 respectively. Both pedons have low to very low exchangeable bases with cation exchange capacity (CEC) < 16 cmol(+)/kg soil. CEC clay values in both pedons are < 24 cmol(+)/kg with BUMA-P1 having < 10 cmol(+)/kg. Both soils are highly weathered with BUMA-P1 depicting more advanced stage of weathering. In the USDA Soil Taxonomy, EMA-P1 was classified as Kanhaplic Haplustults and BUMA-P1 as Typic Kandiustults, both corresponding to Haplic Cutanic Acrisols in WRB. As regards soil fertility trends, OC showed positive correlation with calcium and magnesium indicating organic matter as the main source of plant nutrients. The two pedons differed noticeably in terms of physico-chemical characteristics emphasizing the need to characterize soils before fertilizer recommendations are made. Organic fertilizers are recommended to increase organic matter content and intercropping of cereals with nitrogen fixing legumes to enhance nitrogen in the soils. Use of non-acidifying inorganic fertilizers and lime as soil amendments should also be considered to correct acidity.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.language en
dc.subject Pedological characterization
dc.subject Busia County
dc.subject Kenya
dc.subject Soil morphology
dc.subject Physico-chemical properties
dc.subject Soil fertility trends
dc.subject Soil classification
dc.title Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Soils of Busia County, Western Kenya: soil Morphology, Physico-chemical Properties, Classification and Fertility Trends
dc.type Article


Files in this item

Files Size Format View
Kebeney et al_P ... rization Paper_fnl pdf.pdf 336.8Kb application/pdf View/Open

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search COSTECH


Advanced Search

Browse

My Account