Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya

Loss of agroecosystem soil functions due to soil quality (SQ) degradation impacts Africa's agricultural viability and food security. Primary forest and farm fields deforested between 1930 and 2000 were sampled along a chronosequence on two parent materials in western Kenya. Two traditional long-term...

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Autores principales: Moebius-Clunee, B.N., Es, H.M. van, Idowu, O.J., Schindelbeck, R.R., Kimetu, J.M., Ngoze, S., Lehmann, Johannes, Kinyangi, James
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2011
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25020
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author Moebius-Clunee, B.N.
Es, H.M. van
Idowu, O.J.
Schindelbeck, R.R.
Kimetu, J.M.
Ngoze, S.
Lehmann, Johannes
Kinyangi, James
author_browse Es, H.M. van
Idowu, O.J.
Kimetu, J.M.
Kinyangi, James
Lehmann, Johannes
Moebius-Clunee, B.N.
Ngoze, S.
Schindelbeck, R.R.
author_facet Moebius-Clunee, B.N.
Es, H.M. van
Idowu, O.J.
Schindelbeck, R.R.
Kimetu, J.M.
Ngoze, S.
Lehmann, Johannes
Kinyangi, James
author_sort Moebius-Clunee, B.N.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Loss of agroecosystem soil functions due to soil quality (SQ) degradation impacts Africa's agricultural viability and food security. Primary forest and farm fields deforested between 1930 and 2000 were sampled along a chronosequence on two parent materials in western Kenya. Two traditional long-term management systems were sampled: continuous low-input maize (Zea mays; Co), and kitchen garden (Ki) polyculture with organic inputs. Physical, biological, and chemical SQ indicators were measured. Degradation in Co followed exponential decay trends for most indicators (organic matter, active C, water-stable aggregates, available water capacity, electrical conductivity, CEC, pH, Ca, Mg and Zn), as well as for yield. Organic matter quality declined linearly, suggesting degradation will continue. For both parent materials and most indicators degradation of 25–93% below initial values resulted, but with ≤40% further drop below initial values and for more indicators under Co than Ki. P, Zn and possibly K accumulated over time under Ki. The extent of degradation was influenced by parent material. In conclusion, a basic accessible set of SQ indicators was successfully used to describe soil degradation dynamics under cultivation. Results suggest that regular organic inputs can significantly reduce degradation, especially of nutrient retention and soil structure, after forest conversion.
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spelling CGSpace250202025-06-13T04:20:18Z Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya Moebius-Clunee, B.N. Es, H.M. van Idowu, O.J. Schindelbeck, R.R. Kimetu, J.M. Ngoze, S. Lehmann, Johannes Kinyangi, James soil agriculture Loss of agroecosystem soil functions due to soil quality (SQ) degradation impacts Africa's agricultural viability and food security. Primary forest and farm fields deforested between 1930 and 2000 were sampled along a chronosequence on two parent materials in western Kenya. Two traditional long-term management systems were sampled: continuous low-input maize (Zea mays; Co), and kitchen garden (Ki) polyculture with organic inputs. Physical, biological, and chemical SQ indicators were measured. Degradation in Co followed exponential decay trends for most indicators (organic matter, active C, water-stable aggregates, available water capacity, electrical conductivity, CEC, pH, Ca, Mg and Zn), as well as for yield. Organic matter quality declined linearly, suggesting degradation will continue. For both parent materials and most indicators degradation of 25–93% below initial values resulted, but with ≤40% further drop below initial values and for more indicators under Co than Ki. P, Zn and possibly K accumulated over time under Ki. The extent of degradation was influenced by parent material. In conclusion, a basic accessible set of SQ indicators was successfully used to describe soil degradation dynamics under cultivation. Results suggest that regular organic inputs can significantly reduce degradation, especially of nutrient retention and soil structure, after forest conversion. 2011-04 2012-12-18T16:13:01Z 2012-12-18T16:13:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25020 en Limited Access Elsevier Moebius-Clunee, B.N., Es, H.M. van, Idowu, O.J., Schindelbeck, R.R., Kimetu, J.M., Ngoze, S., Lehmann, J. and Kinyangi, J.M. 2011. Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 141(1-2): 86-99.
spellingShingle soil
agriculture
Moebius-Clunee, B.N.
Es, H.M. van
Idowu, O.J.
Schindelbeck, R.R.
Kimetu, J.M.
Ngoze, S.
Lehmann, Johannes
Kinyangi, James
Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya
title Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya
title_full Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya
title_fullStr Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya
title_short Long-term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western Kenya
title_sort long term soil quality degradation along a cultivation chronosequence in western kenya
topic soil
agriculture
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/25020
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