PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S. D. Angima
AU  - M. K. O'Neill
AU  - A. K. Omwega
AU  - D. E. Stott
TI  - Use of Tree/Grass Hedges for Soil Erosion Control in the Central Kenyan Highlands
DP  - 2000 Oct 01
TA  - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
PG  - 478--482
VI  - 55
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/55/4/478.short
4100  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/55/4/478.full
AB  - 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.