Characteristics of soils in selected maize growing sites along altitudinal gradients in East African highlands.
Maize is the main staple crop in the East African Mountains. Understanding how the edaphic characteristics change along altitudinal gradients is important for maximizing maize production in East African Highlands, which are the key maize production areas in the region. This study evaluated and compared the levels of some macro and micro-elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and P) and other soil parameters (pH, organic carbon content, soil texture [i.e. % Sand, % Clay and % Silt], cation exchange capacity [CEC], electric conductivity [EC], and water holding capacity [HC]). Soil samples were taken from maize plots along three altitudinal gradients in East African highlands (namely Machakos Hills, Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro) characterized by graded changes in climatic conditions. For all transects, pH, Ca, K and Mg decreased with the increase in altitude. In contrast, % Silt, organic carbon content, Al and water holding capacity (HC) increased with increasing altitude. The research provides information on the status of the physical-chemical characteristics of soils along three altitudinal ranges of East African Highlands and includes data available for further research.
African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya ; Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya.
Elijah
E
Njuguna
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P.O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mary
M
Gathara
Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P.O. Box 20412-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Stanley
S
Nadir
African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya ; Department of General Studies, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), P.O. Box 2958, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Sizah
S
Mwalusepo
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR-7153 LOCEAN, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Centre IRD France Nord, 32 Avenue Henri-Varagnat, F-93143 Bondy cedex, France.
David
D
Williamson
Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, CEREGE UM34, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Pierre-Etienne
PE
Mathé
African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Jackson
J
Kimani
African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tobias
T
Landmann
University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
Gerald
G
Juma
University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
George
G
Ong'amo
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya.
Erastus
E
Gatebe
African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya ; UMR Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes, Comportement et Ecologie, groupe IRD, Diversité, Ecologie et Evolution des Insectes Tropicaux, UPR 9034, 22 CNRS, 91198 - Gif-sur-Yvette, France and Université de Paris-Sud, 91405-Orsay, France.
Bruno Le
BL
Ru
African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya ; UMR Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes, Comportement et Ecologie, groupe IRD, Diversité, Ecologie et Evolution des Insectes Tropicaux, UPR 9034, 22 CNRS, 91198 - Gif-sur-Yvette, France and Université de Paris-Sud, 91405-Orsay, France.
Paul-André
PA
Calatayud
Cation exchange capacity; Electric conductivity; Leaching; Organic carbon content; Soil macro and micro elements; Soil pH; Soil texture; Water holding capacity