Saturated hydraulic conductivity - physical properties relationships of salt affected soils in Makindu,Makueni District, Kenya

Abstract

Three different kinds of farms were studied in Muhindi farm, Makindu, Makueni district. The farms were (i) virgin land, (ii) land under production, being irrigated and (iii) land completely abandoned due to salinity. These farms were selected such that they are adjacent to one another and represent three different kinds of treatments. The physical properties studied were bulk density, organic carbon, texture (day, silt and sand) and antecedent moisture. These were determined in the laboratory using standard procedures. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was determined in the laboratory using constant head permeameter. Relationships were then drawn between saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and the above selected physical properties in the areas studied. It was observed that Ksat correlated positively with sand fraction and organic carbon but negatively with clay, bulk density, silt fractions and antecedent moisture.