• Login
  • Help Guide
View Item 
  •   JOOUST IR Home
  • Research Papers
  • School of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • View Item
  •   JOOUST IR Home
  • Research Papers
  • School of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Effects of farmers’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics on soil degradation in different physiographic units of Nyakach Sub-county, Kenya

Thumbnail
View/Open
Main article (443.8Kb)
Publication Date
2015-12
Author
Kodiwo, Maurice Odhiambo
Otieno, Charles A.
Ang`awa, Francis Okere
Type
Article
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract/Overview

A number of scholars contend that demographic and socio-economic characteristics influence soil degradation. However, the nature and extent of the relationship varies spatially and temporally. Nyakach Sub-county in Kenya is characterized by high levels of soil erosion, low agricultural production and high poverty. This research aimed at establishing the relationship between soil degradation and: 1) demographic characteristics of the farmers, 2) social characteristics of the farmers, and 3) economic characteristics of the farmers in different physiographic units. Simple random sampling was used to select 388 homesteads out of about 13,300. Questionnaire and field measurements were used to collect primary data. Descriptive and non-parametric inferential statistics were used to determine the effects and associations. Kendall tau-b association test was used to test the associations of soil degradation and farmers’ characteristics with physiographic units. Chi square test for independence was conducted to confirm whether farmers’ characteristics and soil degradation were independent of the physiographic units. Results show that soil erosion depth had significant association with age, main occupation and income. A number of demographic and socio-economic characteristics of farmers were dependent on physiography. Agricultural policies based on demographic and socio-economic statuses of farmers must take into consideration site specific topographic conditions.

Subject/Keywords
Demographic; Socio-economic; Soil degradation; Physiographic units
Publisher
Net Journal of Agricultural Science
ISSN
2315 - 9766
Permalink
http://ir.jooust.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2529
Collections
  • School of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences [24]

Browse

All of JOOUST IRCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics

Contact Us

Copyright © 2023-4 Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)
P.O. Box 210 - 40601
Bondo – Kenya

Useful Links

  • Report a problem with the content
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Deaccession/Takedown Policy

TwitterFacebookYouTubeInstagram

  • University Policies
  • Access to Information
  • JOOUST Quality Statement