Erosion susceptibility of the soils of Mukogodo catchment.

Abstract

Erosion susceptibility was studied in soils of the Mukogodo catchment in the Laikipia District of Kenya. Factors studied were: climate, relief, soil erodibility, land use, land management, surface cover, and conservation. Susceptibility was evaluated using two approaches: the additive approach in which the factors were rated and added up, and the multiplicative approach in which the factors were rated and multiplied. The final ratings gave the following classes of susceptibilities in both methods: very low, low, moderate, high and very high. The multiplicative approach gave moderate to very high susceptibilities and the additive approach gave low to high susceptibilities the results indicate that the multiplicative approach gave a better picture of the soil susceptibility to erosion. About 87, 10 and 3% of the catchment area was covered by very high, high and moderate erosion susceptibilities, resp. Erosion hazard was very high in the area due to uncontrolled grazing, which is associated with overgrazing, and lack of conservation measures.