Effects of Land Use/Land Cover Change and Rainfall Variability on Hydrological Characteristics of River Ruiru Watershed, Kiambu County, Kenya

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorShadrack K. Murimien_US
dc.contributor.advisorKennedy Obieroen_US
dc.contributor.authorWaithaka, Ann
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-31T09:25:39Z
dc.date.available2022-03-31T09:25:39Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionA Thesis Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Hydrology and Water Resources Management) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, November, 2021en_US
dc.description.abstractWatersheds and their water resources are highly vulnerable to land use/land cover changes and seasonal rainfall variability as they directly influence basin hydrological characteristics in terms of water quantity and quality. This study assessed the effects of land use/land cover change and rainfall variability on hydrological characteristics of River Ruiru watershed in Kiambu County. The study integrated the use of remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), water quality sampling, hydrological modelling and statistical methods to collect and analyse the collected data. Results of land use/land cover change analysis indicated that built-up areas, annual crops and perennial crops (tea and coffee) increased by 3.068%, 35.848% and 11.493% respectively between 1976 and 2017. However, it was observed that perennial crops increased gradually between 1976 and 1995 but declined by 1.94% between 1995 and 2017. Grassland, shrubland and forestland declined by 7.48%, 13.25% and 29.79% respectively between 1976 and 2017. Consequently, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model simulation results indicated that the land use/land cover changes that occurred in River Ruiru watershed between 1984 and 2017 had effects on the quantity of river discharge and water quality for drinking purposes. Surface runoff (SURQ), lateral flow (LATQ) and groundwater contribution to discharge (GWQ) increased from 30.25mm/yr, 8.48mm/yr and 9.95mm/yr to 181.25mm/yr, 11.44mm/yr and 10.66mm/yr respectively. Moreover, the nitrates in surface runoff (NO3SURQ), nitrates in lateral runoff (NO3LATQ), Organic Nitrogen (N.ORG) and Organic Phosphorus (P.ORG) increased from 0.05kgN/ha/yr, 0.06kgN/ha/yr, 5.77kgN/ha/yr and 0.87kgP/ha/yr to 1.47kgN/ha/yr, 0.19kgN/ha/yr, 70.60kgN/ha/yr and 8.86kgP/ha/yr respectively. In additions, findings from the study indicated that temporal rainfall variability had effects on the quantity of river discharge and water quality of River Ruiru. Based on regression analysis, the correlation between the observed and predicted value of dependent variable indicated an association of R=0.972 between temporal rainfall variability and quantity of river discharge hence showing a strong positive linear relationship. Similarly, Pearson’s correlation analysis results showed that temporal rainfall variability was strongly and positively correlated to NO3, N.ORG and P.ORG with R=.695, p<.001; R=.781, p<.001 and R=-.780, p<.001. Furthermore, results from a paired sample t-test indicated that pH, turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) had higher mean during wet season (M=8.40, M=79.00, M=51.20, M=87.00 and M=54.20) than in dry season (M=6.80, M=11.60, M=43.40, M=73.00, and M=45.40). The difference for these water quality parameters between dry and wet seasons was significant (P=0.003, P=0.034, P=0.005, P=0.013 and P=0.014). Moreover, findings from the study indicated that DO, TDS, electrical conductivity, total phosphorus and total nitrogen values were within World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) recommended values. However, the results for the total coliforms and E. coli indicated that River Ruiru was severely polluted with faecal organisms. In conclusion, land use and land cover changes and temporal rainfall variability have affected the quantity of river discharge and water quality in River Ruiru watershed. As such, remedial actions to address the hydrological effects of land use/land cover change and temporal rainfall variability both by national and county governments are required.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/23452
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.subjectEffectsen_US
dc.subjectLand Useen_US
dc.subjectLand Cover Changeen_US
dc.subjectRainfall Variabilityen_US
dc.subjectHydrological Characteristicsen_US
dc.subjectRiver Ruiru Watersheden_US
dc.subjectKiambu Countyen_US
dc.subjectKenyaen_US
dc.titleEffects of Land Use/Land Cover Change and Rainfall Variability on Hydrological Characteristics of River Ruiru Watershed, Kiambu County, Kenyaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Effects of Land Use....pdf
Size:
4.85 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Fultext thesis
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
PHD-Department of Geography