| dc.description.abstract | A study was conducted in which forty-four (44) soil and sixty-seven (67) forage samples were
collected at different sites within the Lake Nakuru National Park. Sampling sites were classified in
terms of distance from the lake and location (east, west or north) while forages were categorized
according to species most favoured fgr grazing by wildlife. Soils were analyzed for extractable sodium
(Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn),
copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb); while forages were assayed for the
same elements plus aluminium (AI) and molybdenum (Mo) as total concentrations on a dry
matter(DM) basis. The objectives of this work were to assess the status of both macro- and trace
elements in soils and forage and identify those that might be limiting animal health and nutrition within
the Park.
Soil analysis indicated that pH, extractable Ca, Mg, Co, Cu, Mn and Zn were significantly
higher (P<0.05) in samples from the east than from the north and west of the Park. Potassium and Na
decreased significantly (P<0.05) with distance (away) from the lake; whereas the converse was true of
Mn and Fe. Differences in soil concentrations for the elements P, Cd, Pb and Fe were insignificant
irrespective of sampling region or distance from the lake....... | |
