Characteristics of soils in selected maize growing sites along altitudinal gradients in East African highlands

Data in Brief

Elijah Njuguna¹  Tobias Landmann¹  Jackson Kimani¹  Paul-andré Calatayud¹  Bruno Le Ru¹  Sizah Mwalusepo¹  Pierre-Etienne Mathé²  David Williamson³  Erastus Gatebe⁴  Mary Gathara⁵  Stanley Nadir⁵  Gerald Juma⁶  George Ong’amo⁶ 

[1] African Insect Science for Food and Health (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya;Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, CEREGE UM34, Aix-en-Provence, France;Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR-7153 LOCEAN, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Centre IRD France Nord, 32 Avenue Henri-Varagnat, F-93143 Bondy cedex, France;Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000, Nairobi, Kenya;Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), P.O. Box 20412–00200, Nairobi, Kenya;University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya;

关键词: Soil macro and micro elements;    Organic carbon content;    Soil texture;    Soil pH;    Cation exchange capacity;    Electric conductivity;    Water holding capacity;    Leaching;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.dib.2015.08.030

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Maize is the main staple crop in the East African Mountains. Understanding how the edaphic characteristics change along altitudinal gradients is important for maximizing maize production in East African Highlands, which are the key maize production areas in the region. This study evaluated and compared the levels of some macro and micro-elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and P) and other soil parameters (pH, organic carbon content, soil texture [i.e. % Sand, % Clay and % Silt], cation exchange capacity [CEC], electric conductivity [EC], and water holding capacity [HC]). Soil samples were taken from maize plots along three altitudinal gradients in East African highlands (namely Machakos Hills, Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro) characterized by graded changes in climatic conditions. For all transects, pH, Ca, K and Mg decreased with the increase in altitude. In contrast, % Silt, organic carbon content, Al and water holding capacity (HC) increased with increasing altitude. The research provides information on the status of the physical–chemical characteristics of soils along three altitudinal ranges of East African Highlands and includes data available for further research.

【 授权许可】

Unknown