Investigation into causes of gullying and gully control in Kandara division of Muranga district.

Abstract

Gullying is intense in many arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya due to erosive climatic conditions, rugged terrain, development projects like roads and overgrazing. The same problem of gullying is extending into good agricultural lands due to human and livestock increases in population and other- land

development activities. Several land and water development schemes have been carried out without evaluating their impact on the environment. The lack of properly planned run off disposal systems has led to defective drainage which has resulted in roadside gullies. With a high rate of population growth in the developing world and Kenya in particular, an

attempt should be made to solve the problem of gullying so that agricultural production maY,keep pace with population increase.

The paper discusses the causes and problems of gullying in Kandara division, Muranga Location, Kenya. Survey results and field observations are given. The paper also gives the present gully control practices and their effects. Recommendations of practices to prevent and control different types of erosion in general and gully erosion in particular and to preserve land for the future are summarised