Water and salt movement in salt affected soils in Kimorigo/Kamleza irrigation scheme Taveta, Kenya

Abstract

Water and salt movement in a recharge- discharge area was studied. Njukini formed the recharge area while the discharge area was located in the Kimorigo/ Kamleza irrigation scheme. Relatioships were drawn between infiltration rates density, moisture. texture, organic KaRt, bulk antecedent and selected physical parameters namely; Vertical Kast, first and third horizons' horizontal KaRt, silt and antecedent moisture correlated positively with infiltration rates. Clay and sand fractions displayed a significant to very highly significant negative correlation with infiltration rates. Similar relationships that were drawn between Kent and the selected physical parameters indicated that vertical KeRt correlated positively and significantly with silt fraction across all treatments. Clay was negatively and highly significantly related to vertical KaRt. Latter and the vertical bulk density, sand, antecedent water and organic matter correlated very highly significantly and positively. Groundwater quality in the recharge area had only a permeability problem due to its'low soluble salt content (EC was O.26-0.28dS/m).The quality of the groundwater in the discharge area had all the irrigation water problems that included salinity, permeability, specific ion toxicity, and miscellaneous effects. A salt leaching experiment carried out in the discllarge area showed that about 49% of the soluble salts were leached from the 0-10 em depth on application of 12 em of water flood. Salt leaching was noted to be an ineffec~ive way of reclamation. Poor management irrigation water in both the recharge and discharge areas encouraged the development of the perilous saline seeps. This exacerbated the salt problem by contributing as the reservoir for capillary salinisation in the discharge area.