Land Use Impact in River Njoro Watershed
The study was done to assess surface runoff and soil erosion in the River Njoro watershed. The study was carried out on runoff plots. A rainfall simulator having dimensions of 0.4 m by 0.25m was used to simulate rainfall on plot size of 0.1m2 in five land use areas at an average rate of 10mm/h. Surface runoff and soil erosion generated from the three sites in each land use were measured. The soil properties including bulk density, texture organic matter content and pH were measured in every site. The highest surface runoff was on grazing land and decreased in the order of agricultural land, deforested area, plantation forest and indigenous forest land use. The values of the mean surface runoff in mm for each land use were 23.78, 18.74, 17.72, 6.99 and 0.31 respectively. Soil erosion decreased in the order, agricultural land, deforested area, grazing land, plantation forest and indigenous forest land use. Statistical analysis (P<0.05) showed that there were significant differences in the measured parameters between the land use areas. The results of this assessment are to be used in developing River Njoro watershed management strategy.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Book Section biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
International Association of Impact Assessment
2009
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| Subjects: | Watersheds, Catchment area, Runoff, Rainfall, Soil erosion, Land use, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/7392 |
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