Browsing by Author "Wabusya, Moses"

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Effects of land use practices on soil organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in river Nzoia drainage basin, Kenya
(Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2015-05-07) Wabusya, Moses; Nyongesa, Humphrey; Konje, Martha Muthoni; Agevi, Humphrey; Tsingalia, Mugatsia
Land use activities along River Nzoia Drainage Basin, Kenya, include cultivation along the river banks, over grazing, deforestation, draining of wetlands for horticulture, harvesting of sand and brick-making. These activities have brought about changes in soil properties in the drainage basin adversely affecting farming output and the ecosystem in general. Consequently, it is important to understand how the different land use activities influence the soil properties in order to design and implement effective soil management strategies. This study examined the effects of land use practices on selected soil nutrients in Nzoia River Drainage Basin in Bungoma County. Cultivation and grazing were identified as important land use practices, while undisturbed sites were treated as controls. Land use practices along the river were identified by actual surveying of the study area. Secondary data on land use practices were obtained from technical reports, from local authorities and government offices. Soil samples were collected from different land use areas using randomly placed 5mx5m quadrats. Solis were collected at depths of 15cm in zigzag grid layout in each sample quadrat using soil auger. A total of 72 soil samples were collected in the study sites and analyzed for total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and organic carbon (C). Analysis of variance and correlation were performed to determine the significant land use practices affecting soil N, C and P. Cultivation had a significant effect on soil organic C mean value of 1.91 but negatively correlated with total Nitrogen and soil C while undisturbed sites exhibited positive correlation with C (P≤ 0.05). On the basis of our findings, it is recommended that conservation agriculture be practiced in the River Nzoia and its drainage system.
Forage availability and quality for the Impala (aepyceros melampus (brian) kathryh) of Impala sanctuary, Kenya
(International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 2014-10-28) Obiet, Leonard; Konje, Martha; Muyekho, Francis; Danyuku, Esther; Kigen, Charles; Wamalwa, Stella; Kassily, Fredrick; Wabusya, Moses
Brian) Kathryh) in three ecosystems of the Impala sanctuary, Kenya was assessed during the wet and dry seasons. The grazing behavior of the impalas was observed to identify the preferred forage species and patterns grazing between seasons and ecosystems. Preferred grass species were sampled to determine percentage dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fibers, and Crude protein. Data was subjected to Analysis of Variance using SAS version 9.0. The results showed that impala sanctuary had 37 different grass species but Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis curvula, Digitaris scalarum, Eleusine indica, Pennisetum setaceum and Hyparrhenia filipendula were most grazed on by the Impala. Grassland ecosystem had significantly high forage availability during the wet season, but in the dry season the marshes ecosystem was the one with the most nutritious forages. Grazing patterns varied with seasons, with most impalas preferring to graze in the grassland during the wet season and in the marshes during the dry season. The study suggests management practices that favor dominance of species that are most foraged in order to increase forage availability for the impalas in the sanctuary.
Forage Availability and Quality for the Impala (Aepyceros Melampus (Brian) Kathryh) of Impala Sanctuary, Kenya
(International Journal of Recent Scientific Research, 2014-10-07) Obiet, Lenard; Konje, Martha Muthoni; Francis, Muyekho; Danyuku, Esther; Kigen, Charles; Wamalwa, Stella; Kassilly, Fredrick; Wabusya, Moses
Forage availability and grazing pattern for the impala (Aepyceros melampus (Brian) Kathryh) in three ecosystems of the Impala sanctuary, Kenya was assessed during the wet and dry seasons. The grazing behavior of the impalas was observed to identify the preferred forage species and patterns grazing between seasons and ecosystems. Preferred grass species were sampled to determine percentage dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fibers, and Crude protein. Data was subjected to Analysis of Variance using SAS version 9.0. The results showed that impala sanctuary had 37 different grass species but Cynodon dactylon, Eragrostis curvula, Digitaris scalarum, Eleusine indica, Pennisetum setaceum and Hyparrhenia filipendula were most grazed on by the Impala. Grassland ecosystem had significantly high forage availability during the wet season, but in the dry season the marshes ecosystem was the one with the most nutritious forages. Grazing patterns varied with seasons, with most impalas preferring to graze in the grassland during the wet season and in the marshes during the dry season. The study suggests management practices that favor dominance of species that are most foraged in order to increase forage availability for the impalas in the sanctuary.