Use of Tree/Grass Hedges for Soil Erosion Control in the Central Kenyan Highlands

S. D. Angima; M. K. O'Neill; A. K. Omwega; D. E. Stott

ABSTRACT:

Three erosion control methods of using a tree hedge, a grass hedge, and a combination of the two were used on an alfisol in central Kenya. Soil loss, biomass yield, and profile survey of the runoff plots were measured during two cropping seasons. Average cumulative soil loss from plots with hedges of tree, combination, grass, and non hedged control were 5.6, 7.4, 11.2, and 10.9 Mg ha^-1, respectively. Dry matter yields were 2.98, 9.24, and 11.90 Mg ha^-1 yr^-1 for tree, combination, and grass hedge, respectively. Topographic survey of the plots showed a near uniform terrace formation and decrease in slope of about 0.2% for all hedges, but an increase in slope for the control plots by the same magnitude. Small-scale farmers in the highlands of Central Kenya who practice a mixed farming system could use this soil conservation technology as a step towards sustainable farming practices.

Footnotes

While this research was conducted, Samson Angima was a graduate research assistant and Mick O'Neill was a senior agronomist with the International Centre for Research in Agroforesfry at Nairohi, Kenya. Currently, Samson D. Angima is in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue University and Mick O'Neill is assistant professor and superintendent with the Agricultural Science Center at New Mexico State University. Asenath Omwega is with the Intermediate Technology Development Group in Nairobi Kenya and Diane Stott is a soil microbiologist at the USDA ARS, National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory at West Lafayette, IN.
Copyright 2000 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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