The Distribution, Characteristics and Some Management Aspects of Acid Soils in Kenya

Abstract

Acid soils cover an important part of Kenya's land surface.They are concentrated in four main areas namely: Western, Central, Eastern Kenya and Coastal belt. For the purpose of this paper, it is necessary to define what is meant by "acid soil". Hereafter, an acid soil is considered as a soil whose pH ;(water 1:1 v/v) is lower than 5.5 in the B-horizon. This definition is in conformity with acidity classification followed by the staff of Soil Chemistry Section at National Agricultural Laboratories in Nairobi. The major soil groups in Kenya that fall in this category of acid soils according to Kenya Concept (Siderius and van der Pouw, 1980) and the FAO (1974), terminology are Andosols (humic and mollic), Ferralsols (rhodic and orthic) Nitosols (mollic, humic and dystric), Acrisols (humic and chromic) and Cambisols (humic and eutric) •