Environmental Impacts of Sugarcane Farming, Kenya

Sugarcane farming is an important economic activity in Kenya and other parts of the world. As sucrose and other products from sugarcane processing such as ethanol, bagasse, and hydo electric power become important industrial products, sugarcane production is on the rise. As a result, several agronomic activities are employed including use of high nitrogenous fertilizers like diammonium phosphate and urea. Use of high amounts of nitrogenous fertilizers has been documented to have an effect on soil Chemistry of the receiving soils. Alloway in 1995, demonstrated serious soil effects from fertilizer use. Based on this scientific knowledge, it is necessary to study the effect of continuous use of nitrogenous fertilizers have on the soil and the aquatic systems flowing through them.