Abstract:
Human population’s pressures on land resources have increased the need to assess impacts of
land use change on soil quality. In order to assess effects of land use changes on soil quality
properties in University of Embu, soil samples were collected from different land use systems.
The samples were collected from cultivated, grazed and forested land at a depth of 0-30cm.
Each land use system was divided into three 2m by 2m plots arranged in a completely
randomized design and replicated three times. Soil samples were analyzed for differences in
pH, bulk density and moisture content. Differences in soil properties between land use systems
were compared using analysis of variance using R statistical software. Means was separated
using Tukey’s test. Results from this study showed that conversion of natural forest into land
for cultivation and grazing had a significant effect on soil pH, moisture and bulk density. It was
observed that soil bulk density was significantly high in grazed and cultivated land in
comparison to forested land. Soil moisture was observed to vary with the different land uses,
with forested area having more soil moisture than grazed and cultivated areas. Based on these
results, there is a need to consider appropriate management practices for increasing soil
sustainability and productivity at the University of Embu.
