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Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

Year: 2010 | Volume: 3 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 195-207
Research Article

The Role of Moisture in the Successful Rehabilitation of Denuded Patches of a Semi-Arid Environment in Kenya

Kevin Z. Mganga
Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology,University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
Nashon K.R. Musimba
Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology,University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
Moses M. Nyangito
Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology,University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
Dickson M. Nyariki
Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology,University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Nairobi, Kenya
Agnes W. Mwangombe
Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection,University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Wellington N. Ekaya
RUFORUM, Uganda
William M. Muiru
Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection,University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Daniele Clavel
CIRAD, France
Judith Francis
CTA, Netherlands
Ralph von Kaufmann
FARA, Netherlands
Jan Verhagen
Wagengen University, Netherlands
This study investigated the role of moisture in the successful rehabilitation of denuded patches in semi-arid lands of Kenya and the primary productivity of three perennial rangelands grasses namely Cenchrus ciliaris (African foxtail), Enteropogon macrostachyus (Bush rye) and Eragrostis superba (Maasai love grass) at three phenological stages (early growth, elongation and reproduction) as pure stands and two-grass mixtures. The grasses were sown on either rainfed (Sites 1 and 2) or simulated rainfall conditions (site 3). Site preparation in all the 3 sites involved mechanical bush clearing, use of fire and creation of micro-catchments using an ox-drawn plough. Soils in site 3 were sandy clay loams and those in sites 1 and 2 were sandy clays. There was total failure in establishment sites 1 and 2 under natural rainfall. Site 3 had good germination and subsequent establishment. These results were attributed to the moisture conditions in the three sites. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in primary production of the three grasses at the different phenological stages. Cenchrus ciliaris was the most productive among the three grasses at the reproduction stage. Eragrostis superba and Enteropogon macrostachyus were ranked second and third respectively. Enteropogon macrostachyus was more prolific at the early growth stages. Results from this study strongly suggest that moisture is the most important ecological factor necessary for successful rehabilitation of denuded patches in semi-arid environments of Kenya and that differences in primary production among the three grass species can be attributed to their growth, morphological and physiological characteristics and competitive advantage.
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Kevin Z. Mganga, Nashon K.R. Musimba, Moses M. Nyangito, Dickson M. Nyariki, Agnes W. Mwangombe, Wellington N. Ekaya, William M. Muiru, Daniele Clavel, Judith Francis, Ralph von Kaufmann and Jan Verhagen, 2010. The Role of Moisture in the Successful Rehabilitation of Denuded Patches of a Semi-Arid Environment in Kenya. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 3: 195-207.

DOI: 10.3923/jest.2010.195.207

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jest.2010.195.207

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