Assessing the influence of horticultural farming on selected water quality parameters in Maumau stream, a tributary of Nairobi River, Kenya.

Autor: Wilson MM; Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya., Michieka RW; Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya., Mwendwa SM; Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Heliyon [Heliyon] 2021 Dec 11; Vol. 7 (12), pp. e08593. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 11 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08593
Abstrakt: This study aimed to determine the levels of contamination in Maumau stream as a result of horticultural activities in its vicinity. The stream was purposefully delineated into three blocks including upstream, midstream and downstream, where water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical attributes. Standard analytical procedures for water analysis were followed in laboratory analysis and the collected data was analyzed using Genstat software. Analyzed parameters include total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, total suspended solids (TSS), sulphates (SO 3 -3 ), phosphates (PO 3 -3 ), nitrates (NO 3 - ), fluoride (Fl - ), turbidity, chloride (Cl - ), magnesium (Mg +2 ), sodium (Na + ), potassium (K + ) and zinc (Zn +2 ). The results were presented in tables and a graph against WHO standards. All measured parameters showed significant differences (p=<0.001) among their means across the sampling sites and control. The pH did not show a clear trend from upstream through midstream to downstream. The concentrations of chloride decreased down the stream with control, midstream and downstream showing no statistical significance. Means of fluoride, magnesium, phosphates, sulphates, total soluble solids and zinc increased down the course of the stream. Increasing concentrations of the physicochemical parameters down the stream was attributed majorly to release and addition of agrochemicals to the stream from the nearby farms. A lucid knowledge of the nexus between land use and water quality was recommended as a prime management implication. In conclusion, the water quality of Maumau stream is being degraded by horticultural activities along the stream. Key policy actions including river pegging should be adopted to protect the water quality.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
(© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: