Effect of tea cropping on the structure of some Kenyan soils
2000
Owino-Gerroh, C.,(Kenyatta University, Department of Environment Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya) | Keter , J.K.(University of Nairobi, Department of Soil Science, Nairobi, Kenya) | Mbuvi, J.P.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi (Kenya). National Agricultural Research Laboratories)
Experiments were conducted on humic Andosols to investigate the effect of tea cropping on the structural aspects of the soil. Selected fields had the following: moribund tea, tea planted in 1959, tea planted in 1979 and a new forest clearing intended for tea growing. All are situated in Kagaa, Kiambu District, Kenya, within the Tea and Dairy Agro-ecological zone. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from 0 to 15 and 15 to 30cm depths. In spite of tea cropping, organic C remained high ( 30 g kg-I) in all the soils and the bulk densities were not significant¬ly different. The moisture content, aggre¬gate stability and saturated hydraulic con¬ductivity of the soils were significantly (P 0,01) improved with cropping. Water reten¬tion, structural and hydrological character¬istics, including profile water holding and available storage capacities, were not adversely affected by cropping. This sug¬gested that the stagnation or decline in yields is due to other factors.
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