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Heterogeneity in Event-Based Soil Hydrologic Response to Different Land Use Types in Upper River Njoro Catchment, Kenya

Received: 16 August 2018    Accepted: 19 September 2018    Published: 19 October 2018
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Abstract

Soil hydrologic response depends on the soil characteristics such as infiltration capacity, porosity, organic matter content and bulk density. Knowledge on the dynamics of these soil parameters and soil hydrologic response as a result of different land use types is crucial for formulation and adoption of proper soil and water conservation techniques for increased agricultural production. In this research, soil hydrologic response to different land use types is evaluated. Four land use types were purposely selected. These included natural forest, deforested land, fallow agricultural land and grassland. Soil samples were collected and soil hydraulic and hydrological properties that included soil texture, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and organic matter content were determined in the soil laboratory. The evaluated soil hydrological response parameters included runoff coefficients, infiltration rate, water repellency and ponding time. The findings showed that the highest and lowest mean bulk density of 1.36 and 0.96 g/cm3 was recorded for deforested and natural forest land respectively. The highest mean saturated hydraulic conductivity (170.21cm/day), porosity (0.62) and organic matter content (4.63%) were observed in the natural forest while the lowest values (24.78cm/day, 0.47 and 0.75%) respectively were found in the deforested land. High water repellency (100.34 cm/hr) and runoff coefficient (0.0077) was recorded in the deforested areas. The findings of this indicate how different land use types affect on-site hydrologic response and generation of stream flow in the catchment hence providing baseline data for future soil and water relations research.

Published in International Journal of Engineering Management (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11
Page(s) 47-57
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Hydrologic Response, Land Use, Event-Based Analysis

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Leah Amisi, Peter Musula Kundu, Raphael Muli Wambua. (2018). Heterogeneity in Event-Based Soil Hydrologic Response to Different Land Use Types in Upper River Njoro Catchment, Kenya. International Journal of Engineering Management, 2(3), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11

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    ACS Style

    Leah Amisi; Peter Musula Kundu; Raphael Muli Wambua. Heterogeneity in Event-Based Soil Hydrologic Response to Different Land Use Types in Upper River Njoro Catchment, Kenya. Int. J. Eng. Manag. 2018, 2(3), 47-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11

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    AMA Style

    Leah Amisi, Peter Musula Kundu, Raphael Muli Wambua. Heterogeneity in Event-Based Soil Hydrologic Response to Different Land Use Types in Upper River Njoro Catchment, Kenya. Int J Eng Manag. 2018;2(3):47-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11,
      author = {Leah Amisi and Peter Musula Kundu and Raphael Muli Wambua},
      title = {Heterogeneity in Event-Based Soil Hydrologic Response to Different Land Use Types in Upper River Njoro Catchment, Kenya},
      journal = {International Journal of Engineering Management},
      volume = {2},
      number = {3},
      pages = {47-57},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijem.20180203.11},
      abstract = {Soil hydrologic response depends on the soil characteristics such as infiltration capacity, porosity, organic matter content and bulk density. Knowledge on the dynamics of these soil parameters and soil hydrologic response as a result of different land use types is crucial for formulation and adoption of proper soil and water conservation techniques for increased agricultural production. In this research, soil hydrologic response to different land use types is evaluated. Four land use types were purposely selected. These included natural forest, deforested land, fallow agricultural land and grassland. Soil samples were collected and soil hydraulic and hydrological properties that included soil texture, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and organic matter content were determined in the soil laboratory. The evaluated soil hydrological response parameters included runoff coefficients, infiltration rate, water repellency and ponding time. The findings showed that the highest and lowest mean bulk density of 1.36 and 0.96 g/cm3 was recorded for deforested and natural forest land respectively. The highest mean saturated hydraulic conductivity (170.21cm/day), porosity (0.62) and organic matter content (4.63%) were observed in the natural forest while the lowest values (24.78cm/day, 0.47 and 0.75%) respectively were found in the deforested land. High water repellency (100.34 cm/hr) and runoff coefficient (0.0077) was recorded in the deforested areas. The findings of this indicate how different land use types affect on-site hydrologic response and generation of stream flow in the catchment hence providing baseline data for future soil and water relations research.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Heterogeneity in Event-Based Soil Hydrologic Response to Different Land Use Types in Upper River Njoro Catchment, Kenya
    AU  - Leah Amisi
    AU  - Peter Musula Kundu
    AU  - Raphael Muli Wambua
    Y1  - 2018/10/19
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11
    T2  - International Journal of Engineering Management
    JF  - International Journal of Engineering Management
    JO  - International Journal of Engineering Management
    SP  - 47
    EP  - 57
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1568
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijem.20180203.11
    AB  - Soil hydrologic response depends on the soil characteristics such as infiltration capacity, porosity, organic matter content and bulk density. Knowledge on the dynamics of these soil parameters and soil hydrologic response as a result of different land use types is crucial for formulation and adoption of proper soil and water conservation techniques for increased agricultural production. In this research, soil hydrologic response to different land use types is evaluated. Four land use types were purposely selected. These included natural forest, deforested land, fallow agricultural land and grassland. Soil samples were collected and soil hydraulic and hydrological properties that included soil texture, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and organic matter content were determined in the soil laboratory. The evaluated soil hydrological response parameters included runoff coefficients, infiltration rate, water repellency and ponding time. The findings showed that the highest and lowest mean bulk density of 1.36 and 0.96 g/cm3 was recorded for deforested and natural forest land respectively. The highest mean saturated hydraulic conductivity (170.21cm/day), porosity (0.62) and organic matter content (4.63%) were observed in the natural forest while the lowest values (24.78cm/day, 0.47 and 0.75%) respectively were found in the deforested land. High water repellency (100.34 cm/hr) and runoff coefficient (0.0077) was recorded in the deforested areas. The findings of this indicate how different land use types affect on-site hydrologic response and generation of stream flow in the catchment hence providing baseline data for future soil and water relations research.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

  • Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

  • Department of Agricultural Engineering, Egerton University, Nakuru, Kenya

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