TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA

IRRIGATION ENGINEERING 1A
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA
GROUP 8
22 July 2021

GROUP MEMBERS
NAMES: REGISTTATION NUMBER:
1. ALEX MUCHIRI KAGOZI EICQ/01007/2015
2. SUSAN CHERUYIOT KERIO EICQ/01006/2015
3. CONSOLATA NJOKI MWANGI EICQ/00994/2015
4. PHELIX NYADONGO EICQ/01017/2015
5. ABRAHAM LEMAYIAN EICQ/ 03059p /2015
6. NAIBEI DANIEL EICQ/01011/2015
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

Page 2|8
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

Page 3|8
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

QUESTION
Identify and discuss various soils that have been formed over different geological period
from parent rocks of varied origin in Kenya. Include soil map for Kenya.

INTRODUCTION
Kenya has a variety of rock types,ranging from Basement system rocks of Precambrian age to
Tertiary volcanics and Cenozoic unconsolidated sediments.This variation in geology coupled
with variation in relief and climate has resulted in formation of wide range of soils. Major
agricultural soils include andosols,ferralsols, vertisols, acrisols, lixisols, luvisols and nitisols.
The following is a summary of the major soil types in Kenya:
1. ANDOSOLS
Andosols are soils formed from recent volcanic material hence referred to as young volcanic
soils. They are exposed to excessive leaching due to the high rainfall intensity in the areas.They
have the following characteristics:
a) They are porous with low bulk density
b) They may be coarse or fine textured but usually have a high silt content
c) They have high water storage capacity
d) They have high organic matter
e) They have low pH (acidic) as a result of excessive leaching of basic salts hence need for
liming.
Andosols are found in Chyulu Range,Aberdare Range and slopes of Mt Kenya. They are
extensively used in agriculture for tea,pyrethrum,wheat production and dairy farming.
2. NITISOLS
These soils occur in highlands and on steep volcanic slopes such as the central highlands of
Kenya. They were popularly known as Kikuyu Red Loam.
They are found in Cental Kenya on both sides of Mt Kenya and the Aberdare Range, the Kisii
highlands,the Sotik and Kericho highlands and around Mount Elgon.
They have the following characteristics:
a) They have favourable moisture storage capacity and aeration
b) They are usually red,dark red,dusky red or dark reddish brown in colour.
c) They are acidic in nature due to leaching of soluble basic salts
d) They often contain a clay content of more than 35%
e) They have high degree of phosphorus sorption
They are the best agricultural soils in the region and are often used for food production and
plantation farming.
Page 4|8
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

3. ACRISOLS, ALISOLS, LIXISOLS, LUVISOLS

These soils occur in coffee zones in sub-humid areas. The soils have the following features:
a) They have an increased clay content in sub-soil. The subsoil is hence not very porous,
impending root spreading
b) The soils have relatively low water storage capacity
c) The soils have low pH and are therefore acidic in nature
d) They have low level of nutrient and nutrient reserves
e) They have poor structure and need measures to prevent erosion
These soils are very responsive to both organic and inorganic fertilizers hence their fertility can
be considerably increased.
4. FERRALSOLS
They occur on gently undulating to undulating topography.
They are old, heavily weathered and leached soils hence have poor fertility. Their natural fertility
is therefore restricted to the A-horizon and is related to the organic matter content.
They are found in the Trans-Nzoia plateau and parts of the Kisii highlands
They have the following characteristics:
a) They are deficient of Phosphorous and Nitrogen
b) Are rich in Aluminium and Iron
c) They have good physical properties such as moisture retention
The maintenance of these soils and mineral redistribution can be easily achieved by use of green
manure and mulching. They are suitable for growth of several annual and perennial crops such as
oil palm, rubber and coffee.

5. PLANOSOLS
They are also known as Vlei soils.They occur on flat,old land surfaces such as the Laikipia
plateau, the Kirinyaga plateau and Sotik plateau.They have the following characteristics:
a) Are poorly drained
b) Are often waterlogged
c) Have very low vertical and horizontal drainage
d) Their soil fertility status ranges from low to moderate

6. VERTISOLS
Page 5|8
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

Are popularly known as black cotton soils.They are commonly found in Mwea,Athi Kapiti
plains,Kano and Trans Mara. The soil characteristics are as follows:
a) They are poorly drained and poorly aerated
b) They are very sticky when wet and very hard when dry hence low workability
c) Becomes easily waterlogged when it rains
d) Very tiny particles with tiny pore spaces
e) They crack during dry season
Vertisols are ideal for rice production.

7. REGOSOLS
These are stony and rocky soils of widely variable chemical fertility, depending on parent
material.
They have a low moisture storage capacity and they are generally occur in the steeper areas of
the highlands and mountains.

8. PHEOZEMS
These are soils with dark coloured topsoil which is high in organic matter.
They are usually very fertile because they contain large quantity of organic matter, abundant
mineral nutrients and has an excellent physical structure.
They are found in the Kisii highlands, Laikipia plateau and Narok.

9. CAMBISOLS
These are young little weathered soils with moderate to high natural fertility.
Bulk of cambisols especially those found in high altitude areas have high organic matter content.

10. HISTOSOLS
These are poorly drained soils with thick topsoil that contains a high percentage of organic
matter.
They are found in minor valleys of Mt.Kenya, Mt.Elgon and Aberdare.

11. LITHOSOLS

Page 6|8
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

These are shallow, stony and rocky soils.Their fertility depends on the parent material. They are
found in mountainous and steeper areas.They are generally not suitable for agriculture.

12. GLEYSOLS
Gleysols are poorly drained mineral soils which are periodically waterlogged.They are found in
swampy and marshy areas within the highlands.Their fertility is widely variable since others are
acidic while others have topsoils rich in high organic matter content.

13. GREYZEMS
These are soils rich in humid and are grey in colour. They are found in south western highlands
and their natural fertility is moderate.

14. ARENOSOLS
These are weakly developed soils with an ABC sequence of horizons.They commonly occur on
quartz rich crystalline or sedimentary rocks or unconsolidated sediments derived from them.They
are commonly found in arid and semi arid areas of Northern and North Eastern Kenya,the coastal
regions and some river valleys.They are characterized by:
a) Low action exchange capacity
b) Low moisture storage capacity
c) Low fertility since the top soil is low in organic content
d) Coarse textured thus high permeability
e) Salinity and acidic

15. LIXISOLS
They have higher clay content in the subsoil than in the topsoil as a result of clay migration.
They have a high base saturation and low activity clays at certain depths.Conservation measures
are required for this soil type.

16. CALSISOLS
They have substantial accumulation of lime.They are common in highly calcareous parent
materials and widespread in arid and semi arid areas.Drought-tolerant such as sunflower can be
grown under rain-fed conditions.
On slaking calcisols,furrow irritation is preferred to basin irrigation since it reduces surface
crusting or cracking and seedling mortality.
Page 7|8
MAJOR SOILS IN KENYA GROUP 8IRRIGATION 1A

17. HISTOSOLS
These are bog and marsh soils with dark coloured thick topsoil that contains a high percentage of
fresh or partially decomposed organic matter. Their physical and chemical characteristics are
strongly determined by the environment and the plants that accumulated to give rise of the
organic matter.

18.LEPTOSOLS
These are soils with hard rock at very shallow depth. The topsoil is not rich in organic matter.
They have continuous coherent and hard rock within 10cm of the surface. They are mostly found
in hilly and mountainous areas on slopes with excessive and often erosive run-off.

Page 8|8