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

Abstract

Following 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.