Abstract: This study is focused on the assessment of the effects of deforestation on springs found in Nuu and Mutaitho hills in Kitui County. Deforestation is manifested by clearing of dry land forests on a massive scale. Springs in Nuu and Mutaitho hills originate from groundwater aquifers and are essentially formed on hillsides and valley bottoms that intersect groundwater flow at or below the local water table. The main objective of the study was to determine the main causes of decline in...
Abstract: Assessment of human exposure to the naturally occurring fluoride in groundwater in Kenya has not being exhaustive in terms of geographical coverage and the media. There is need to have representative data and information on the extent of human exposure to fluoride and its impact on human health. This study investigated the extent of human exposure to fluoride and its impact on human health in Makindu District, and evaluated the potential risk of using ground water contaminated by f...
Abstract: The study assessed the potential of enhancing rainfall through weather modification. The specific objectives were aimed at determining the seasonal wind pattern; investigation of the temporal and spatial variation of atmospheric aerosols; identification of the cloud types and simulation of the effects of cloud seeding on precipitation. The study focused on enhancing rainfall during the months of October -November -December which constitute the short rain season due to the easiness ...
Abstract: The study is primarily an assessment of groundwater quality in the Yatta Plateau of Kitui County. The study focused on the spatial temporal distribution of key chemical parameters namely pH, TDS, Colour, Total hardness, Turbidity, Conductivity, Total alkalinity, Fluoride and Iron. Yatta Plateau is a volcanic formation which is characteristically flat at the top thus limiting overland flow and depression storage necessary for other methods of water supply to the community resident o...
Abstract: Makueni County is extremely vulnerable to climate change because its production systems are climate sensitive, and many people are unable to cope up with climatic stress. The aim of this study was to establish water scarcity coping strategies used by rural communities in Kilili sub-location in Makueni sub-county and Kyanguli sub-location in Kibwezi East sub-county, all located Makueni County. The broad objective of the study was to identify water sources, access challenges and copi...
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of land degradation on agricultural land use, planning and management in Kalama Division, Machakos County; and specifically determined farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected types of agricultural land uses in varying cropping zones, investigated farmers’ local environmental knowledge of land degradation indicators and finally documented farmers’ land management strategies and practices for soil and water c...
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the natural and socio economic factors that affect indigenous chicken production and the level of their impact in Katangi and Ikombe divisions of Yatta sub county, Machakos County. The study therefore sought to establish why despite the Government, Non Governmental organizations and the communities spending a lot of resources in tackling food insecurity among the local communities through poultry keeping, there has been an increase in the n...
Abstract: P. juliflora is known to interfere with the growth of plants growing in its vicinity by the release of allelochemicals during the decomposition of its litter. An attempt was made to determine the effects of different concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of P. juliflora hexane and ethanol leaf extracts on seedling growth, yield and yield components of B. carinata. Soil seedbed and extracts were also prepared from soils sampled from different sites of distance gradient from P. ...
Abstract: Soil degradation caused by erosion threatens agricultural production in many regions of Ethiopia. Though various soil and water conservation (SWC) measures have been introduced and practiced by farmers, the extent of their adoption and sustainability is not clear. This is also true of Chingo watershed of Anlemo woreda and it is with this understanding that a study was proposed and conducted to assess the adoption of introduced SWC practices and their effect on selected soil propert...
ABSTRACT Leucaena leucocephala plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture through their ability to improve soil fertility and health. Leucaena leucocephala, with a mutual symbiotic relationship with some bacteria in soil, can improve nitrogen (N) amount through biological N-fixation (BNF). But to maximize such functions, legumes need more phosphorus (P) as it is required for energy transformation in nodules. Besides, P also plays a significant role to root development, nutrient upta...
Interactions of bird species with their biotic and abiotic environment influence their occurrence and spatial distribution. This is because physical and biological conditions vary along an ecological gradient. Elevation gradient, vegetation mosaic and climate variations can influence avifaunal diversity and assemblages. Birds being very good indicators of the state of the environment can be used to demonstrate the impact of these changes on species communities especially in an Afromontan...
The effects of human disturbance on the ecosystem processes influence the management of recreational areas and the benefits that can be obtained. Public urban parks provide environmental, economic and social benefits to the urban communities. The Nairobi City Park (NCP) located on 49 ha of land divided into a conserved area of 33 ha and 16 ha recreational area. The park has a high level of biodiversity and provides recreation to the visitors. Currently many changes have occurred within t...
Charcoal is a key bio-energy resource in Kenya, providing domestic energy for 82% of urban and 34% of rural households. The charcoal industry also creates jobs for wood producers, charcoal producers, transporters and vendors. The industry employs almost 1 million people on a part and full-time basis across the value chain. Despite regulation there is continued unsustainable charcoal production in western Mau forest block. Are the regulations not working or simply not implemented by the m...
Achieving minimum international recommendations regarding tree cover is a challenge in Kenya, particularly in Kajiado County. As the region faces severe land and forest degradation, planting and managing trees inside school compounds can contribute to improving tree density. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the factors that influence the density of trees in school tree enclosures within Kajiado County, precisely Kajiado North, East, West and Central sub-counties. The four spec...
ABSTRACT Over 2.6 billion people of the world’s population prepare their food and heat their homes with biomass fuel mainly woodfuel. Wood fuel is used as a major source of energy without a replacement plan and is partly the cause of deforestation. Among the interventions identified as crucial to slowing down deforestation include promoting alternative sources of energy and using efficient stoves to reduce pressure on forest resources. This study examined wood fuel utilization and efficien...