The Influence Of The Soil Physical Properties On The Infiltration Rates In The Salt Affected Soils In Makindu, Makueni District, Kenya Type Or Paste Your Content Here

Abstract

The influence of the soil physical properties on the infiltration rates in the salt affected soils in Makindu, Makueni District was investigated. Three different kinds of farms adjacent to one another are studied in Muhindi farm (Makindu). These were selected to represent three different kinds of treatments. These were (i) virgin land (ii) land under production, being irrigated and (iii) land completely abandoned due to salinity. The physical properties studied were saturated hydraulic conductivity (vertical Ksat), bulk density, texture (sand, clay and silt), organic carbon and antecedent moisture. These were determined in the laboratory using standard procedures. Infiltration rates were done in the three different arms (treatments) in triplicates. This was done using a double cylinder inflitrometer. Infiltration rates varied significantly between the three treatments. It was high¬est in the virgin land and lowest in the completely abandoned farm. Relationships were then drawn between infiltration rates and the above selected physical parameters. Vertical Ksat, organic carbon, bulk density and sand fraction correlated positively with infiltration rates although not significant.