Browsing by Author "Konje, Martha Muthoni"

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    Assessing the Long-Term Changes in Selected Meteorological Parameters over the North-Rift, Kenya: A Regional Climatology Perspective
    (Hydrology, 2024-12-03) Makokha, John Wanjala; Masayi, Nelly Nambande; Barasa, Peter; Ikoha, Peters Anselemo; Konje, Martha Muthoni; Mutonyi, Jonathan; Okello, Victor Samuel; Wechuli, Alice Nambiro; Majengo, Collins Otieno; Khamala, Geoffrey Wanjala
    Understanding long-term trends in climatic variables is essential for assessing climate change impacts on regional ecosystems and human livelihoods. A regional analysis of climatic variables over some domains is inevitable due to their geographical location and importance to the agricultural sector. Due to the aforementioned demands, the current study analyzes, trends in precipitation (from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS)), and minimum and maximum temperatures (from TerraClimate) over the North-Rift region of Kenya for over thirty (30) years using satellite data. The seasonal decomposition analysis was performed for each variable to explore the trends and residual components. The findings by the current study indicate that most counties, have experienced enhance precipitation which corresponds to a declining diurnal temperature from 2019 onwards. The seasonality component reveals repeated patterns or variations occurring at steady intervals within each region's data, hence suggesting a distinct regional seasonal trend in the selected meteorological parameters over time. Basically, all counties have reported a relatively constant variability in both maximum and minimum temperatures during the study period except from 2017 onwards where significant variability in the two properties is recorded. In conclusion, the foregoing results that the selected climatic variables exhibit significant spatiotemporal and interannual variability
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    Using Digital Tools to Assess Soil Variables in Selected Counties in North Rift, Kenya
    (AgroEnvironmental Sustainability, 2025-03-15) Mutonyi, Jonathan; Masayi, Nelly Nambande; Majengo, Collins Otieno; Konje, Martha Muthoni; Makokha, John Wanjala
    The need for techniques and instruments that enable rapid soil testing has gained attention in the face of climate change and environmental degradation. This could improve efficiency and productivity by providing real-time, high-quality, and accessible data for decision-making. This study used GPS tools to visualize, analyze, and gather essential field information and applied Near Infra-Red Spectrometry to assess soil parameters and recommend corrective action for sustainable livelihood in five Counties in North Rift Kenya. Soil reaction varied from 5.5 in Kaptega, Transnzoia, to 7.8 in Kospir, Turkana counties. Low soil pH and CEC were recorded in parts of Nandi and Transnzoia counties. Soils from the dryland ecologies in Turkana, W. Pokot, and Samburu were predominantly alkaline. Total organic Carbon was generally low in the dryland ecologies of Samburu and Turkana. Low soil fertility was generally indicated in Samburu, Turkana, and W. Pokot. This was attributable to the low organic carbon levels and low precipitation, which may have negatively influenced soil microbial activity. Sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation, mulching, mixed farming, cover cropping, and minimum/conservation tillage are recommended in areas where crop cultivation is feasible. Amelioration of soils with agricultural lime and organic matter is highly recommended in the affected areas within the agropastoral counties for improved production to guarantee food security and sustainable livelihoods