Soil macrofauna populations as Influenced by Some Common Soil Management practices in central Kenya
2005
Sande, S.(Kenyatta University, Zoology Department, Nairobi, Kenya.) | Ogol, C.K.P.O.(Kenyatta University, Zoology Department, Nairobi, Kenya.) | Woomer, P.L.(Kenyatta University, Zoology Department, Nairobi, Kenya.)
Soil fertility decline is increasingly leading to reduced food and feed production worldwide. Soil macrofauna seem to playa key role in determining soil quality and the farmers in Central Kenya already use presence of some macrofauna as fertility indices yet their balance is likely to be upset by such disturbances. Over 73% of the smallholder farmers in Kiambu District, Central Kenya are using crop manure, animal wastes and inorganic fertilizers to Increase their farms' fertility and subsequent productivity. A study was carried out in smallholder farms with Kiambu district, to find out if the organic resource management practices adopted by farmers mresponse to soil fertility decline enhance the biodiversity and activity of soil fauna, some of which may serve as indicators of soil quality. During the period between May 2000 and December 2000, a series of 20 x 20 x 20cm soil monoliths were dug in six farms and macrofauna hand sorted from them. The results obtained showed that farms with no soil erosion control or soil fertility control were less species rich but core species-even (S= 38 and J=1.35323). Farms with both soil erosion control and organic amendments as a soil fertility control had a higher species richness of S=47 and less evenness ofJ=0.61614. Those with soil fertility control in terms of organic amendments but no soil erosion control had the least number of species (27) and 'moderate' richness and evenness. This explained why farms with both soil fertility and soil erosion control practices were more productive as compared to those with only
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