Assessment of Soil Erosion in Bungoma County, Kenya

The book assesses soil erosion factors in parts of Bungoma and Mount Elgon districts forming Bungoma County drained by River Kibisi in Kenya. The overall purpose of the study is to improve land management and reduce the impact of soil erosion in order to increase agricultural production. The most important factors that determine the rate of soil erosion are rainfall, soil type, slope, land cover, land use and soil and water conservation practices. The main driving force is increase of population and human activities on land. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model provides accurate estimation of soil loss using average annual rainfall (R), soil erodability factor (K), slope length of topographic factor (LS), land cover (C) and conservation practice factor (P). This model has been applied with fairly good results together with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or geospatial information system. In order to determine soil erosion, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques is combined with Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to assess soil erosion factors in the study area. Terracing is the best soil erosion and conservation management practice.