Soil & Water
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Item 1. The Half-Collared Kingfisher (Alcedo Semitorquata) At the Nest(1944) Moreau, R.E.; East African Agricultural Research Institute, AmaniThis is a widely distributed kingfisher, from the Eastern Cape Province to Angola and Abyssinia. about which little has been written. Everywhere it is a bird of streams rather than rivers and. at any rate in tropical Africa. only those of which the banks are thickly wooded. Exceptionally it occurs as low as 1.000 ft. above; sea-level even close to the Equator-I have seen i· ton a side branch of the lower Pangani River-but from 3,000'ft. upwards in the neighbouring Usambara Mountains it is resident on the small streams in the forest. These waters are remarkably deficient in native fish and. since these kingfishers, unlike Halcyon albiventris and lepidine picte, do not feed on dry land. they probably as a rule depend in part on the abundant crab and amphibian fauna for their food. One at Amani was seen to catch and eat a white butterfly, as others have remarked. the general habits of the Half-collared Kingfisher closely resemble those of the European bird: it has a similar swift direct: flight, high-pitched uninflected squeak and preference for nesting in holes close to water. In appearance it is an even more attractive bird. for the black bill accord! delightfully with the large silvery-white ear-patches and the exquisite blue of the upper parts. The alarm note is a loud. spip-ip-ip-ip-peep".Item 12th Meeting of the E.A. Specialist Committee on Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrition: The FAO Fertilizer Programme in Kenya(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 1969) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Okalo, A.J.; Tag, P.; Zschernitz, K.The FAO Fertilizer Programme started working in Kenya in September 1968. Since then 500 demonstrations have been laid out in the planting season 1969 and 1200 demonstrations in 1970. Results of planting season 1969 and 197 were summarized and they are contained in this paper. Inspite of drought conditions in most parts of Kenya in 1969 very good fertilizer response was reported, especially from Maize and Groundnut demonstrations. NPK trials conducted on groundnut, beans and soya beans gave first information on the fertilization of this crop. They were repeated in 1970 to confirm the information obtained in 1969.Item The 13th Meeting of the East African Specialist Committee on Soil Fertility and crop Nutrition(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 1974) Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteAn agronomy programme was initiated at Plant Breeding Station, Njoro in 1967 to examine nutritional and other factors limiting wheat yields, and to determine methods of overcoming them. Four nutritional and soil amendments namely lime, potassium, nitrogen and phosphate were tested and the relative importance of each was evaluated. Nitrogen and phosphate were found to be the major nutritional elements limiting wheat yields in Kenya. Results of this work by Seltzer J.F. et al (1970) have since then formed the basis for nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer recommendations for wheat.Item An Advisory Report on the Soil Conditions and Agricultural Potential of Mwikya's Farm (Nzaui Location, Machakos District), 1982(Ministry of Agriculture, 1982) Muchena, F.N.; Aore, W.W.; Muchunu, F.M.; Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of AgricultureThis site evaluation was carried out at the request of Mr. Joshua Mwikya, a farmer in Nzaui location, Machakos District. The farmer had initially sought advice from the Soil Chemistry Section of the National Agricultural Laboratories, who informed him that a soil survey of his farm was necessary. The purpose of the soil survey ~ to examine the soil conditions of the farm and determine its suitability for various crops, The field work was carried out on 19th August, 1982,Item African Soil Sciences Congress The State of soil science Development in Kenya(Kenya Soil Survey, 1980) Kenya Soil SurveyAgriculture plays a crucial role in Kenya' s economy and. will continue to do so for a long time to come. The role of agriculture is especially important in the rural areas where over 80( of Kenya's population of 15 million live and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Development plans have consequently laid emphasis and given priority to programmes aimed at developing the small holder farm sector, which is estimated to consist of 1.1 million farms, and to devising methods of developing the moderate and low rainfall areas in order to promote a more even development in the country.Item Analysis of a Long-Term Maize Yield Field Trial Data to Determine the Effect Of Continuous Application of Fertilizers(Elias Gitonga Thuranira, 2007) Thuranira, E.G.The Kenyan population pressure in the high and medium potential areas has led to continuous cropping thus resulting to severe soil degradation. This has led to the use of integrated nutrient management strategies in order to reduce nutrient depletion by use of low cost inputs under sustainable land management. This study seeks to find the effect of farmyard manure, organic fertilizers (NP) and residues on maize yields. This long term trial was started in 1976 and is still going on. Data was analysed up to 2001. The broad objective of this study is to determine the effect of continuous maize cropping with, manure addition, maize stover incorporation and nitrogen-phosphorus fertilization on maize crop yields. The design used is Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Analysis was carried out to determine which treatments are superior over a long period of time and models fitted to establish the optimal levels of farm yard manure and organic fertilizer application. In chapter three it is shown that applying organic fertilizers together with farm yard manure is beneficial (p=O.OOO)to the maize crop. Residues alone have no significant benefits to the crop (p=O.240). The study has establislied that the optimal application level for farm yard manure is about ]3 t/ha and that for organic fertilizer is 220kg/ha.Item Annex to the report: Site, Field Description and Laboratory Data of Soil Profiles in Mashuru Division. Kajlado District - Information to increase soil productivity in an arid environment, 2000(Kenya Agriculture Research Institute, 2000) Waruru, B.K.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; The Netherlands Liasion Office (NLO); Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteFollowing a Kajiado District stakeholder's workshop held in May 1996, it was recommended that the Kenya Soil Survey (KSS) carries out a systematic (per division) land resources (Soils, Vegetation, Soil moisture and Socio-economy) inventory of Kajiado district. Mashuru division was selected as the pilot study area. For the soils part, a generalised soils map and report for Mashuru has already been published (Waruru, B.K., 2000). The present report presents field and laboratory data for representative soil profiles described during the reconnaissance soil mapping of the division. The profiles represent the soil map units described in the soil survey report. For each soil profile, a site description gives an overview on location, landform, surface characteristics and land use. Soil Profile description provides details on soil pedon horizon characteristics. Physical and Chemical characteristics for each horizon provide information on soil profile development including plant nutrient reserves, use constraint and potential. The soil map indicates the location of the profiles in the different generalised soil map units. Appendix 1 shows the details on criteria for soil classification for both the FAO UNESCO (1994) and USDA (1992) Soil taxonomy. Appendix 2 shows both the Reconnaissance Soil Map Legend and the Generalised Soil Map Legend. Appendix 3 presents a table indicating generalisation of the detailed soil map units, while appendix 4 gives the location of the soil profiles in the respective soil map units and topographical map sheets. The glossary (appendix 5) summarises some of the terms, methods of analysis and units of measurements. This is a technical report comprising the Mashuru soils database. analysis and units of measurements. This is a technical report comprising the Mashuru soils database. It is published as an annexe to the soils report. The data has also been stored in a computerised database amenable for GIS manipulation at KSS. This will facilitate at request the generation of single feature (thematic) products. These include maps on soil depth, organic matter, soil pH, NPK, erosion risk, suitability for specified use etc for the different map units in mashuru. Information contained in this report is useful to Kajiado and Mashuru Agricultural Extension and other development agencies in the division with technical skills to interprete soil data. These include KWS, SARDEP, the NDLFRC Katumani, NRRC Kiboko and ARIDSAK.Item Annotated Bibiliography on Irrigation and Drainage in Kenya 1988(Kenya Soil Survey, 1988) Olsen, M. M.; Lenselink, K. J.; Kenya Soil SurveyFollowing the publication of Fissiha Tefera's bibliography with annotations on Soil and Water Conservation in Kenya in 1985, the need was felt to carry out a similar exercise in the area of Irrigation and Drainage. It was especially in this area of importance for agricultural engineers that many publications, be it published books, consultant’s reports, incidental seminar papers or cyclostyled research results have appeared over the past 10-20 years, which are not easily accessible. They may be kept in various offices, but a central documentation centre, where they would all be available does not exist.Item Annual Report of the Kenya Soil Survey, 1977(Ministry of Agriculture, 1977) Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of AgricultureVarious activities took place during the year. Several missions connected with various projects were received for discussion on matters of soil and land use. They included the World Bank Sugar Rehabilitation appraisal Mission who were received in April and the FAO Dryland Research Mission who made a visit in October. A member of EEC mission to Kenya (Mr. Bailly) on irrigation development of the Mandera-Daua river alluvial plain was also received.Item Annual Report on the Senior Soil Chemist(Kenya Soil Survey, 1962) Collier, F.W.After carrying out some local field work in January the Soil Surveyor departed on vacation leave and then left Government service with the field work and report preparation of the Solai and Ewaso N'giro soil surveys still incomplete. l1he soil boundaries 'On the aerial photographs covering the Ewaso N'giro soil survey area have been inked in and a draft soil map has been prepared but final correlation of the soils recognized is still needed. The soil boundaries of eight ninths of the 190,000 acres of the Solai soil survey project have been inked on the aerial photographs. On the basis of the indications of these photographs, on a draft map prepared by the Soil Surveyor before his departure and on a field inspection, a map has been drawn indicating those parts of Solai/Subukia which are suitable for tea. Adjacent areas have also been delineated in which soil conditions are too variable or have been examined in too little detail for general tea planting to be recommended. It is recognized that in these areas there are shelves of land on which the soils are suitable for tea. Accordingly farmers with proposals to plant tea on such land have been invited to put forward for examination and approval specific projects defining the land on which they propose to plant rea. Each site would then -be adjudicated on the basis of a field inspection and soil analysis. About 6,000 acres are mapped as suitable for tea 'and about 13,800 acres are mapped as worthy of further examination.Item Assessment of Soil Moisture and Nutrients on Terrace Slope of Hard-Setting Soils in Semi-Arid Eastern Kenya(Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 2022) Njiru, E.; Baaru, M.; Gachene, C.; University of Nairobi ; Kenyatta UniversityBackground. Terraces are structures consisting of ditches and embankments used to control erosion and increase land productivity. There is, however, little emphasis on the effects of the ditch dimensions on soil moisture and nutrient dynamics. Objective. To determine the effect of varying ditch depths on soil moisture and nutrient quantities and their variability within the terrace slope on hard-setting soils. Methodology. Soil samples were collected seasonally in 2014 and 2015 from terraces with different ditch depths (60, 30, and 0 [control] cm) for the determination of soil moisture content (SMC). The samples were collected from the upper, middle and lower slope positions of each terrace. Soil from the three slope positions of each terrace was also sampled at the end of the study and analyzed for total nitrogen (% TN), available phosphorous (Av. P), exchangeable potassium (K+) and% organic carbon (OC) contents. Data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance and differences in means determined at a 95% level of confidence. Results. Significant interactions (P< 0.001) in SMC were observed between seasons, ditch depths and slope positions. Higher SMC was found in treatments with 30 and 60 cm ditch depths in all the slope positions and seasons compared to the control. Soil moisture contents in the lower and upper slope positions were significantly different between the terraces with 30 and 60 cm ditch depths when rainfall was high and evenly distributed, but non-significant in poorly distributed rainfall seasons. Significant differences (P≤ 0.05) in contents of total nitrogen and available phosphorous were found between the upper and lower slope positions of the terraces with ditches. Implications. The effect of ditch depths on moisture, total nitrogen and available phosphorous contents and their variability within the slope depended on the amount and distribution of rainfall. Conclusion. Construction of terraces with shallow ditch depths (of 30 cm) is recommended to conserve soil moisture and nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous on hard-setting soils in the marginal areas of semi-arid Eastern Kenya.Item An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Kandis Dam Area Kajiado District, Report No. 57, 1981(Ministry of Agriculture, 1981) Braun, H.M.H.; Ministry of AgricultureItem An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Soils and Water of the Mukutan, Loiminange and Logumkum Sites (Marigat Division, Baringo District), 1990(Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, 1990) Waruru, B.K.; Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development; Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock DevelopmentAt the request of the Provincial Irrigation unit (PIU) Rift Valley Province, soil and water investigations were carried out at three sites in Marigat division, Baringo district. This was a quick study to assess the suitability of the soils and water for small scale basin irrigation for the growth of subsistence crops like vegetables, maize, beans, sorghum, millet and peas. Since this is a preliminary assessment, the results and recommendations are based on the physical environment, a few field observations and limited chemical data. Emphasis was made on soil depth, soil texture, soil salinity and/or sodicity. Water samples from rivers in the area intended for irrigation were analyzed for their chemical composition. It is hoped that on the basis of the findings, a more detailed investigation will be carried out.Item An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Soils of Suguroi Estate (Laikipia District) 1984(Ministry of Agriculture, 1984) Ekirapa, A.E.E.; Kinyanjui, H.C.K.; Ministry of AgricultureThis report describes the soils of Suguroi estates, in Laikipia District, Rift Valley Province. The request for the survey was made by the Chairman of Gianni Ltd., to assess the suitability of the soils within the estates for surface irrigation. The crops earmarked for development are fodder crops to be used for livestock fattening. A preliM1nary investigation of the soils was carried out from 19th November to 1st December, 1984 by the following officers: Messrs. A.E.E. Ekirapa, B.C.K. Kinyanjui, B.N.M. Onyono, P.M. Mainga and V.W.P. van Engelen. The survey had to establish major soil patterns, with emphasis on drainage, depth, texture, topography, sodicity, salinity, stoniness, boulderiness and rockiness. It was assumed that this information would be adequate for decision making regarding irrigation.Item An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Soils of Suguroi Estate (Laikipia District) 1984(Ministry of Agriculture, 1984) Ekirapa, A.E.E.; Kinyanjui, H.C.K.; Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of AgricultureThis report describes the soils of Suguroi estates, in Laikipia District, Rift Valley Province. The request for the survey was made by the Chairman of Gianni Ltd., to assess the suitability of the soils within the estates for surface irrigation. The crops embarked for development are fodder crops to be used for livestock fattening.Item An assessment of the irrigation suitability of the soils of Suguroi estate (Laikipia District) 1984(Ministry of Agriculture, 1984) Ekirapa, A.E.E.; Kinyanjui, H.C.K.; Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of AgricultureThis report describes the soils of Suguroi estates, in Laikipia District, Rift Valley Province. The request for the survey was made by the Chairman of Gianni Ltd., to assess the suitability of the soils within the estates for surface irrigation. The crops earmarked for development are fodder crops to be used for livestock fattening.Item An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Soils of the Amaya, Chemeron, Eldume and Loiminang Areas (Baringo District) 1983(Ministry of Agriculture, 1983) Engelen, V.W.P; Ministry of Agriculture; Engelen, V.W.PAt the request of the Provincial Irrigation Unit, Rift Valley Province, soil investigations were carried out at four sites in Baringo District with the purpose of assessing their irrigation suitability. It has thought that a quick soil survey, indicating only major soil patterns and with emphasis on soil depth, texture and sodicity/salinity, would give enough information on which decisions for further investigations could be based.Item An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Soils of the IDRP Farm, Mwea(Ministry of Agriculture, 1984) Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of AgricultureThe request to carry out soil investigations on the Irrigation and Drainage Research Project (IDRP) farm, Mwea in Kirinyaga District was received from the Head, IORP. It was thought that a quick 8011 survey indicating Only major soil patterns after with emphasis on soil depth, texture, sodicity/salinity would serve their purposeItem An Assessment of the Irrigation Suitability of the Soils of the Kiamariga and New Mutaro Farms and the Lari-Wendani Area (Laikipia And Nakuru Districts) 1983(Ministry of Agriculture, 1983) van Engelen, V.W.P.; Ministry of AgricultureAt the request of the Provincial Irrigation Unit, Rift Valley Province, soil conditions were studied at two sites in Laikipia Distriot and one site in Nakuru District with the purpose of assessing their irrigation suitability. A Quick soil survey, indicating only major soil patterns and with emphasis on drainage, soil depth, texture and sodicity/ salinity, would give enough information on which decisions for irrigation development could be based.Item An Assessment of the Soil Conditions In the Proposed Extension of the Lake Kenyatta Settlement Scheme (Lamu and Tana River Districts) Report No. P62, 1985(Ministry of Agriculture, 1985) Ali, A.M.; Ministry of AgricultureAt the request of the Ministry of Lands, settlement and Physical Planning, a site evaluation was carried out between 8th and 26th March, 1983 to describe the soil conditions outside the present Lake Kenyatta Settlement Scheme and assess its possibility for expansion. The survey area, covering approximately 17,000 hectares, is situated in Lamu District and partly in Tana River District in the Coast Province. It comprises two parts, one on the the northern side of the road between Witu Forest and Mkunumbi and the other on the western side of the present Lake Kenyatta Settlement Scheme (see fig. 1). The field work was executed in collaboration with Mr. J. Nuwamanya and Mr. S. Wataka.
