THE NATURE AND GENESIS OF CERTAIN ARIDISOLS IN KENYA

In the semi-arid Kenya lowlands, strongly contrasting soil units associated with specific positions in the landscape have developed on various ancient alluvial deposits. The soil pattern may be explained by the differential truncation of a previously solodized plateau. These contrasting soil sequences give rise to associated vegetation catenas. Necessary adaptations are applied to the 7th Approximation soil classification, thereby introducing one new Great Group (Halorthid) and several new subgroups (natric grumustert, natric grumaquert, and typic halorthid).