Influence of dwarf shrubland vegetation communities on soil loss, organic matter and soil texture: a northern Kenya experience.

Abstract

The effect of wind erosion in areas subjected to continuous pastoral use compared with the effects of rangeland rehabilitation in areas subjected to natural recovery were studied at four sites in eco-climate zone VI in the Marsabit District of Kenya. The study was conducted using erosion pins and comparing organic and soil texture changes within the first 10cm of the soil. The soils ranged from loamy sand in the rehabilitation enclosure to sandy soils in the area with continual use. In all cases the soils had poor aggregate stability. An average annual soil loss of 95t/ha was observed in the areas under continuous use where vegetation was minimal, whilst soil was deposited at a rate of 446t/ha annually in the rehabilitation enclosure in which there was plentiful Indigofera dwarf shrubland vegetation