Scientific registration n : 817

Symposium n : 35
Presentation : poster

Classification and Sustainable use of Coastal Plain Soils

in Kenya
Classification et utilisation durable des principaux sols de
la plaine ctire du Kenya
DCOSTA Victor (1), WAMICHA Wellington (2)
(1) Soil Science Dept, Nairobi University, Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
(2) Environmental Science Dept, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

INTRODUCTION
Kenyas Coastal Plain stretches along the east coast of Africa extending from Somalia
border on the north to Tanzania border on the south (Fig 1 & 2). It rises gradually inland
west with varying width between 20-30 km. This Plain comprises first of coastline Tidal
Plain belt with recent marine alluvium and then separated by raised coral ridges, the Inland
Plain with subrecent lagoonal sand deposition
Behind this Coastal Plain, the hintherland rises gradually inland west and northeast over the
coastal upland sediments and then across the Nyika Steppes, an extensive arid peneplain
with end tertiary sediments lying between 200 and 1200m.ASL (Saggerson,1962) .The
Nyika grades imperceptably northwards into the very arid country of north-east Kenya with
older sediments overlying the basement system rocks. It is estimated that during Jurasic
period (>100 million years ago) Kenyas coastline extended upto 200m level (Fig.1&2)
enclosing most of the Coast and North Eastern provinces (Min.Energy 1987). Since then
with gradual marine transgression eastwards in phases,the coastline has reached the present
sea-level. Thus, the soils of coast and north eastern regions are developed from marinealluvial sediments of Jurasic to Pleistocene age and Recent and Subrecent deposits in the
present Coastal Plains.
Climatically based on available soil moisture regimes (Sombroek et.al.1980) the coastal
region falls (Fig.2) into agro- ecological climatic zones sub-humid (II) to semi-arid (V)
.Jaetzold and Schmidt,1982,using the same zonal data established agro-ecological zones
and sub-zones, showing their probability of meeting the water and temperature requirements
(climatic yield potential) of leading crops during the growing periods. Thus the coastal subhumid zone II, is considered having good potential (60-70% of optimum) for sugarcanemaize, zone III for coconut-cssava, zone IV for cashevnut-cassava and the semi-arid and
zone V for Livestock/forages-millet enterprises. The rainfall is bimodal with long rains
(March-July) and short rains (October-December).

This study was (I) to characterise and classify the major soils of Coastal Plains and (II) to
assess the suitable uses of these soils based on their land qualities and adaptable land use
systems.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Soil Data: Soil and land use data was obtained by analyses of several profiles and sites
along planned transects across from coastline to inland plain.Although 5 soil transects were
described (Fig.3) across different parts of the plains, only transect 2 (Fig.4) is presented
here, showing a typical cross section of soils occuring on both the tidal and inland
plains.This data was supplemented by incorporating studies from other available soil
reports of the area as in Kwale and Kilifi (Michieka et.al 1978 and Boxem et al.1987) .
Methods: The soil profile descriptions were done according to the FAO (l977) Guidlines,
the Soil Classification following the FAO-UNESCO Soil Legend (l990) and Land Use
according to FAO (l976) Framework for land evaluation. Soil physical and chemical
analyses done by methods as described by Hinga et.al.1980.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Soil Characteristics, Classification and Land Use.
The soils and land use findings are discussed below under two subsections, namely - Soils of
the Tidal Plain and Soils of Inland Coastal Plain.
The pattern of soils can be chiefly determined by the nature of bedrock, physiography and
climate. The major land use of the coastal plains, is small-holder arable and mixed farming,
requiring improved intermediate technology (recommended crop varieties/hybrids,
fertilizers, disease and pest control, conservation measures, etc). Important adapted tree
crops are cashew, coconut, mango, citrus and bixa.The food crops are maize, cassava, millet
(dry areas), peas, beans, vegetables and sugarcane..The land use types broadly reflect
variations in agro-ecological zones (Fig.2) and changes in soils.
Soils of Intertidal Coastal Plain
This belt extends from the coastline to 5-15 km width inland, rising gently (< 2% slopes)
upto 20m ASL altitude. The soils of Tidal plains are developed from unconsolidated recent
marine alluvium over river terraces, floodplains, valleys, bottomlands, sandy beaches, coral
ridges, tidal flats and swamps .This is a zone where coastal salnization as defined by FAO
(1973), takes place due to tidal marine water activity (DCosta and Gachene,1986). Table 1
shows selected properties of important soils of intertidal and inland coastal plains(Fig.4).
Soils of tidal flats, coastal swamps and bays are deep poorly drained, saline-alkali, mostly
unripened clayey soils classifying as eutric, thionic Fluvisols and Gleysols with saline-sodic
phases, gleyic Solonchaks and thionic Histosols. These areas abound in valuable mangrove

and other natural forested woods, sedges, wildlife, fish and fauna, which need protection
from overexploitation of these resources. Some marshes are suitable for fish farming and
salt harvesting.
The coral limestone ridges are mostly shallow and rocky eutric and lithic Leptosols and
Cambisols. The sandy beaches are very deep dystric Regosols/Arenosols which are well
suited for coconut plantations. However, these beaches and ridges serve as most viable
tourist resorts and recreational areas.
The soils of alluvial terraces, flood plains and upper valleys occupy small areas. The
important soils are sandy Arenosols, Ferralsols and deep well drained eutric and thionic
Fluvisols, and imperfect to poorly drained Cambisols and Vertisols with saline-sodic phases.
The well drained soils occurring in Zones II and III are fairly well suited to small scale arable
farming - sugarcane, coconut (light soils) cashew, mango with maize, cassava and vegetables
and poorly drained soils for grazing.
Soil of Coastal Inland Plain
The Inland Plain is separated from the Tidal Plain by raised coral reef, as it extends further
westwards upto about 35 km distance from the coastline and rising to over 100m.ASL
altitude. This plain is above present tidal influence and developed from subrecent sediments,
mainly over coral limestone and alluvial and lagoonal Kilindini sand deposits.
Soils developed over coral limestone and sand admixture range from well weathered, very
deep, well drained, rocky, sandy ferallic Arenosols and rhodic Ferralsols, to moderately deep
sandy clay Cambisols, Luvisols and to very shallow rocky Leptosols. The soil over
Lagoonal and Kilindini sands range from very deep, loamy sand albic and ferralic Arenosols
and Ferralsols to deep imperfectly drained Arenosols, gleyic Luvisols, Acrisols, Planosols
and Phaeozems on midslopes and poorly drained gleyic Luvisols, Vertisols, thionic Fluvisols
on lower alluvial flats, bottomlands and bays. These lagoonal soils merge further inland
upslopes and plateaus with similar soils developed over older coastal sediments and in more
arid climates (Fig 4 and Table 1)
The land use of this inland plain shows that the shallow soils of coral ridges are best left for
housing settlements. The deep to moderately deep, well drained relatively fertile soils
(Ferralsols, Arenosols, Luvisols etc) in Zones III and IV have good potential for small scale
arable/mixed farming with intermediate technology (Jaetzold and Schmidt, l982). The main
tree crops are coconuts ( lightsoils only), cashew, mango, bixa, avacadoes with food crops maize, cassava, sorghum, legumes and vegetables. The potential for food crops is much
lower during short rains for Zone IV. The imperfect to poorly drained soils (gleyic
Vertisols, Luvisols, Phaeozems, Fluvisols) of the wide lagoonal flats, valleys,
bottomlands and bays are limited by poor drainage and saline-sodic conditions, have low
potential for arable cropping except under irrigation. The soils of the vast semi arid to arid
Zone V (Fluvisols, Cambisols, Planosols, Luvisols, Vertisols, Solenetzs with sodic phases),
particularly on the north east coast, have low potential for arable farming and best used for
Livestock, pasture and forages and draught resistant crops as millet, sorghum, beans, peas
and grams.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

This reconnaissance study of the wide Coastal Plain area, outlines broadly the characteristics
and classification of soils for sustainable land uses.
The soils of Intertidal Plain cover small areas of deep, fertile small scale arable Fluvisols on
river terraces and floodplains, while most of the lowlands, tidal flats and swamps with
mostly poorly drained saline-sodic and sulfidic alluvial soils, are better left in their natural
swampy environment. The soils of sandy beach (Arenosols) and shallow coral ridges
(Leptosols) are important tourist resorts and recreational areas .
The soils of Inland Plain and coast uplands on alluvial and lagoonal sand deposits cover
wider areas of deep arable Arenosols, Ferralsols and clayey Fluvisols, Luvisols, Planosols
and Phaeozems, some with sodic phases. The shallow to deep (Leptosols-Ferralsols) of
coral limestone ridges, are better as settlement areas. The main land utilization type of the
plains, is small holder rainfed arable and mixed farming intermediate technology. The
principal potential tree crops are coconut, cashewnut, mango, bixa, citrus and food crops
maize, cassava, millet, sorghum, legumes and vegetables. The choice of the crops is
determined by the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) of the area and the qualities of the soils. The
AEZ ranges from subhumid zone II on the south eastern coast to semi arid zone V moving
inland west and north east. The potential crops of Zone II are sugar cane- maize, coconut
(light soils), in zone III coconut (light soils) maize, cassava. The zone IV is cashew-cassava
and zone V for Livestock/pastures-millet (draught tolerant).
For intensification of agriculture introduction of irrigation particularly on the wide river
terraces and flats, with appropriate cropping and management, is desirable. The saline
swamp and water bodies with natural forested woods (mangroves), reeds, fish, coral and
other fauna must be protected from overexploitation. Some fish farming and salt harvesting
is possible on the tidal flats. Control of siltation and pollution from overland, is necessary
for protection of the coastal ecosystem.
REFERENCES
Boxem, H. W., de Meester, J. and Smaling, E.M., 1987. Soils of the Kilifi area. Rep. R11.
Kenya Soil Survey ( KSS ), Nairobi
DCosta, V.P. and Gachene, C.K. 1986. The Extent, Characteristics, Classification and
Land Use of Histosols in Kenya. Utilization of Peatlands, Proc. 2nd Int. Soil
Management Workshop, 2:121-128. Thailand- Malaysia.
DCosta, V.P. and Muchena, F.N. 1992. Classification and Management of Wet Soils
Kenya. Proc. VIII Int. Soil Correlation Meeting on Wet Soils.VIII: 75-79, Lousiana
and Texas, SMS, USAID and SCS-USDA, Wash. D.C.
FAO, 1976. A framework for Land Evaluation. Soil Bull. No. 32, FAO, Rome.
FAO, 1977. Guildlines for Soil Profile Descriptions, 2nd Ed. FAO, Rome.
FAO. 1973: Irrigation, Drainage and Salinity. An Int.Resourse Book.FAO, Rome.
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FAO-Unesco, 1998: Soil Map of the World. Vol. 1. (revised) Legend. FAO, Rome.
Hinga, G., Muchena, F.N. and Njihia, C.M. (eds), 1980: Physical and chemical
methods
of soil anayses. N.A.L.,KARI.., Nairobi.
Jaetzold, R. and Schmidt, H., 1982. Farm Managemnet Handbook of Kenya: Vol. II, Part A
and B. German Agric.Team and Agric. Min., Nairobi, Kenya
Michieka, D.O., van de Pouw, B.J.A. and Vleeshour, J.J., 1978: Soils of KwaleMombasa- Lungalunga area. Rep. R3, KSS, Nairobi.
Min. Energy, 1987: Geological map of Kenya: Scale1:1M., Ministry of Energy.
Kenya ,Nairobi.
Saggerson, E.P., 1962. Geology of E. Africa. In Natural Resources of E. Africa. Russel.
E.W. (ed. 1962). E.A. Lit., Bureau, Nairobi.
Sombroek., W.G., Braun, H.M.H. and van der Pouw, B.J.A. 1982: Exploratory soil map
and Agoclimatic zone map of Kenya, scale 1: 1M. Rep:No.E1.,KSS. Nairobi.
Table 1 : Some selected properties of major Coastal Plain soils, Kenya.
Profile

Hori

No.

Depth

Color

Txt.

Ece

pH ( 1 : 1 ) CEC-pH 7.0

cm.

moist

class

ds/m

H2O

ESP

B.Sat

O.C

cmol/Kg

cmol/Kg

202/1-265

AP

0-17

7.5YR3/3

CL

7.2

6.8

21.1

15

97

1.4

Eutric

AB

37

5YR3/3

8.9

6.6

21.9

17

100

Fluvisol

1C

65

7.5YR4/4

8.3

6.5

25.7

16

90

0.9

(saline-sodic)

2C

100

7.5YR3/2

CL

9.4

6.7

22.2

18

94

0.7

202/1-277

1Cg

0-40

10Y3/1

SL

16.1

5.8

9.6

34

100

2.1

Thionic

2Cg

80

10Y3/1

LS

8.3

3.7

19

21

59

5.9

Fluvisol

3Cg

100

5Y5/1

SC

36.5

3.8

17.6

25

86

2.6

1C

0-3

10YR5/3

SL

16.5

7.5

13.2

19

100

0.6

Gleyic

2Cg

36

5Y5/2

51.3

8.4

23.4

23

100

0.4

Solonchak

3Cg

100

5Y5/1

64.3

7.9

28.8

22

100

0.5

Kilifi

0-60

10YR2/1

4.5

7.1

350

11

41

45

Histosol

100

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

nd

Kwale
(fig 4)

(fig 4)
202/1-275
(fig 4)

202/2-124

0-30

10YR3/1

SL

0.9

7.6

85

1.8

Eutric

AE

56

10YR5/3

LS

0.5

5.7

5.7

80

0.7

Planosol

Bt

100

10YR5/4

SCL

0.8

5.4

7.1

28

48

0.4

Sodic

Btg

180

10YR6/2

SCL

6.5

23

46

0.1

0-25

10YR3/2

SiCL

5.1

6.4

18

12

81

2.4

Gleyic

Btg1

40

10YR3/1

5.9

7.2

24.2

16

90

0.6

Phaeozem

Btg2

70

2.5YR4/2

6.8

23.7

25

100

0.4

200/1-651

0-30

10YR2/1

0.3

7.1

19

10

100

1.2

Calcic

1C

60

10YR3/1

2.1

7.8

27.1

18

100

0.4

Vertisol

2C

105

10YR4/1

7.9

29.5

28

100

0.2

( Lamu )

Ah

0-25

7.5YR3/2

LS

0.04

6.8

73

0.6

Albic

Az

60

7.5YR4/4

LS

0.03

6.8

80

0.2

Arenosols

100

7.5YR3/3

LS

0.03

6.8

2.8

75

0.2

(fig 5 )

200/2-729

(fig 5 )

( fig 5 )

Keywords : coastal plain soils, land qualities, FAO soil units, land use types, sustainable uses
Mots cls : sols de plaine ctire, qualit des terres, units de sols FAO, types d'utilisation
des terres, usages durables

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