The study area exhibits a first class catena; variation in soils is a result of differences in drainage and lateral movement of materials. The site was delineated into Soil Mapping Units (SMUs) through augering, into soils differing in macro relief. Slope categories included 0 to 5%, 5 to 8%, 8 to 16%, 16 to 30% and > 30%. Profile pits were opened in the five mapping units using stratified random sampling technique. Identified SMUs include UmIr/F, UmIr/E, UxIr/D, UxIr/C and UxIr/AB in order of decreasing slope gradient. Land suitability classification was based on the top horizons and the FAO 1976 criterion for land evaluation was used. The study aimed at identifying the most suitable areas for envisaging production of common crops grown in the area and limitations to production increase. A table of relevant land qualities and their diagnostic factors was constructed, rated and matched with suitability class-defining criteria to determine current suitability. Potential suitability was determined by considering the possibility of resolving the current limitations. Mapping unit UmIr/F and UmIr/E qualified as class S2 for the selected crops majorly due to limitations of workability and susceptibility to erosion based on their slope gradient. Nutrient availability and possibility of use of implements also rated as S2. Unit UxIr/D qualified in S2 category due to the same limitations. Mapping unit UxIr/C and UxIr/AB qualified in the S2 category due to limitations of nutrient availability. After improvements, all the mapping units qualified in class S1. These observations indicate that workability and erosion susceptibility due to steep topography coupled with lack of enough nutrients are the greatest production limitations in the study area. Increasing slope gradient also led to decreasing possibility of use of farm implements. Terracing can reduce the deleterious influence of slope on soil quality, shifting suitability to a higher class, should the steep area be used for cultivation. There is a need for sufficient inputs and cover cropping to maintain high soil quality. Land evaluation should be part of good agricultural practices in any production system.

中文翻译：

---

肯尼亚内罗毕大学卡佩特上校区农作物生产土地评估

研究区域展示了一流的连锁店；土壤的变化是排水和材料横向运动差异的结果。该地点通过凿刻划定为土壤制图单位（SMU），划定为宏观起伏不同的土壤。坡度类别包括0至5％，5至8％，8至16％，16至30％和> 30％。使用分层随机抽样技术在五个制图单元中打开轮廓坑。识别出的SMU按坡度减小的顺序包括UmIr / F，UmIr / E，UxIr / D，UxIr / C和UxIr / AB。土地适宜性分类基于最高层，并使用了粮农组织1976年的土地评估标准。该研究旨在确定最合适的区域，以设想该区域种植的常见农作物的生产以及增产的限制。绘制了相关土地质量及其诊断因素的表格，对其进行了评级并与适宜性等级定义标准进行了匹配，以确定当前的适宜性。通过考虑解决当前限制的可能性来确定潜在的适用性。选定农作物的测绘单位UmIr / F和UmIr / E符合S2类标准，主要是因为其坡度对土壤的可加工性和易蚀性造成了限制。营养可用性和使用机具的可能性也被评为S2。由于相同的限制，单位UxIr / D属于S2类别。由于养分利用率的限制，映射单元UxIr / C和UxIr / AB属于S2类。经过改进后，所有映射单元均符合S1类的要求。这些观察结果表明，由于陡峭的地形以及缺乏足够的养分而导致的可加工性和侵蚀敏感性是研究区域最大的生产限制。坡度的增加也导致使用农具的可能性降低。梯田可以减少坡度对土壤质量的有害影响，如果将陡峭的土地用于耕作，则可以将适应性提高到更高的等级。需要足够的投入和覆盖作物以维持高土壤质量。土地评估应成为任何生产系统中良好农业规范的一部分。坡度的增加也导致使用农具的可能性降低。梯田可以减少坡度对土壤质量的有害影响，如果将陡峭的土地用于耕作，则可以将适应性提高到更高的等级。需要足够的投入和覆盖作物以维持高土壤质量。土地评估应成为任何生产系统中良好农业规范的一部分。坡度的增加也导致使用农具的可能性降低。梯田可以减少坡度对土壤质量的有害影响，如果将陡峭的土地用于耕作，则可以将适应性提高到更高的等级。需要足够的投入和覆盖作物以维持高土壤质量。土地评估应成为任何生产系统中良好农业规范的一部分。