Impact of Water Governance Regimes on Forage Characteristics and Soil Properties in Kajiado County, Kenya
Stanley Jawuoro,
Erick Omollo,
Manei Naanyu,
Danny Simatele,
Consolata Muhindi
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 2, December 2019
Pages:
27-35
Received:
22 July 2019
Accepted:
20 August 2019
Published:
20 December 2019
Abstract: Water governance regimes have a profound effect on vegetation and soil attributes. This is because they directly impact on grazing patterns. Kenyan peri-urban drylands are grappling with climate change and variability, population spill-over from neighboring towns and cities and land degradation that put strain on water resources. Water demand therefore outstrips supply. Sustainable water governance regimes are therefore a prerequisite for climate change resilience, building of adaptive capacities and reduction of climate induced vulnerabilities. This study sought to evaluate the impact of various water regimes on vegetation and soil attributes. Organizational and operational characteristics of diverse water governance regimes were studied and measured against respective vegetation and soil physio-chemical attributes. Soil and vegetation data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA on GenStat 15th edition. The study revealed a shifting trend from traditional water resource management institutions to more formalized regimes. Both public and private water governance regimes and systems existed though most of these lacked proper documentation and clearly defined terms of engagement among relevant actors. These systems applied diverse water management approaches creating significance differences in plant species diversity (p<0.05, F=0.565), richness (p<0.05, F=14.717), soil organic carbon (p<0.001, F=10.67), pH (p<0.05, F=4.84) and particle size distribution (p<0.05, F=5.72) because of varying extents of range access and use. This study concluded that there is need for integrating indigenous knowledge into modern water governance approaches for sustainable crop and livestock production systems. Both national and devolved governance structures should therefore invest in awareness and capacity building to enhance knowledge and skill transfer that would spur development of ecologically, socially and economically responsive systems aimed at augmenting climate resilience of current and emerging production systems and livelihoods.
Abstract: Water governance regimes have a profound effect on vegetation and soil attributes. This is because they directly impact on grazing patterns. Kenyan peri-urban drylands are grappling with climate change and variability, population spill-over from neighboring towns and cities and land degradation that put strain on water resources. Water demand there...
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A Comparative Analysis of Physicochemical Composition of Selected Spring Water in the Bale Eco-region, South East Ethiopia
Getachew Meka,
Alemayehu Wudneh
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 2, December 2019
Pages:
36-40
Received:
2 July 2019
Accepted:
26 July 2019
Published:
23 December 2019
Abstract: Spring water chemical behaviors in various locations and environmental degradation are being among the most recent dynamic issues. In this study, spring water sources of the Rira and Burkitu streams of remote rural areas were considered as holy and healthy water by the local communities. However, the quality of the water is not yet analyzed and still very low attentions are paid by the concerned governmental stakeholders towards characterizing the mineral constituents in order to confirm the existing perceptions. This study focused on comparing water quality of two springs exists in the two extreme altitudinal difference (from upper mountain (Rira spring) and lower altitude (Burkitu spring)) flowing through undisturbed ecosystem in the Bale Ecoregion. Water samples were taken following depth integrated composite samples from the two streams in 2015. The samples were taken to Ethiopian Public Health Organization, Addis Ababa. The spring water samples’ physicochemical characteristics were compared by one way ANOVA and a piper diagram and evaluated against WHO drinking water quality standards. Laboratory investigations revealed that “Burkitu” spring water has a special physique that makes it advantageous water. Turbidity, PO4, F-, and NH4+1 content of Rira and Burkitu spring water were 0.11 and 1.06 (NTU), 0.08 and 0.1 (mg/L), 0.43 and 0.42 (mg/l) 0.19 and 0.18 (mg/l) but not significantly different at P value less than 0.05 in that order respectively. Significantly different parameters at P value less than 0.01 were filterable residue at 180°C, CaCO3, Hardness, silica, Na+, K+, Ca, Mg, NO3, and HCO3 content of Rira and Burkitu springs were 56 and 222, 10 and 180, 36 and 188, 28.18 and 33.51, 6.1 and 8.2, 0.6 and 1.3, 11.22 and 54.51, 1.95 and 12.65, 6.17 and 1.19, 12.2 and 219.6 in that order respectively. pH and NO2 of the springs were significantly different at P value less than 0.05. The most dominant hydro chemical facies explaining the quality were Ca and Na in which Ca2+> Na+. Moreover, the water fit Ethiopian drinking water standard saving the lives of those rural communities with low and cheap water treatment.
Abstract: Spring water chemical behaviors in various locations and environmental degradation are being among the most recent dynamic issues. In this study, spring water sources of the Rira and Burkitu streams of remote rural areas were considered as holy and healthy water by the local communities. However, the quality of the water is not yet analyzed and sti...
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