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Variation of Soil Nutrients in Maize Growing Areas along the Altitudinal Gradient of Taita Hills Transect in Kenya

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dc.creator Njuguna, Elijah
dc.creator Le Ru, Bruno P.
dc.creator Okuku, G.
dc.creator Gathara, Mary
dc.creator Mwalusepo, Sizah
dc.creator Juma, Gerald
dc.creator Sambai, K.
dc.creator Johansson, Tino
dc.creator Ong’amo, Georges
dc.creator Gatebe, E.
dc.creator Calatayud, P. A.
dc.date 2016-09-21T13:19:43Z
dc.date 2016-09-21T13:19:43Z
dc.date 2015
dc.date.accessioned 2018-03-27T08:58:08Z
dc.date.available 2018-03-27T08:58:08Z
dc.identifier Njuguna, E., Le Ru, B., Okuku, G., Gathara, M., Mwalusepo, S., Juma, G., Sambai, K., Johansson, T., Ong’amo, G., Gatebe, E. and Calatayud, P.A., Variation of soil nutrients in maize growing areas along the altitudinal gradient of Taita hills transect in Kenya.
dc.identifier 2308-1365
dc.identifier http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3923
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3923
dc.description Maize is the main staple food crop in Kenya but its yield is being affected by biotic and abiotic factors which reduce maize yield while soil nutrient elements increase the yield. Most plants grow by absorbing nutrients from the soil depending on the nature of the soil. Soil texture affects how well nutrients and water are retained in the soil. Clays and organic soils hold nutrients and water much better than sandy soils. As water drains from sandy soils, it often carries nutrients along with it through leaching. When nutrients leach into the soil, they are not available for plants to use thus affecting the plant health. This study evaluated several physical and chemical properties of soil along the altitudinal gradients of Taita hills which is characterized by graded changes in climatic conditions. Both nitrogen and carbon increased with increase in altitude while Potassium, phosphorus and pH deceased with increase in altitude. Moisture and temperature appear to be important drivers in soil parameter and therefore biological patterning along the transect.
dc.language en
dc.subject Altitudinal gradient
dc.subject Soil nutrient
dc.subject Transect
dc.subject Soil texture
dc.subject Soil pH
dc.subject Leaching
dc.title Variation of Soil Nutrients in Maize Growing Areas along the Altitudinal Gradient of Taita Hills Transect in Kenya
dc.type Journal Article, Peer Reviewed


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