NPP Grassland: Nairobi, Kenya, 1984-1994


[PHOTOGRAPH]
Photograph: Canopy reflectance measurement within the Nairobi site (click on the photo to view a series of images from this site.

Data Citation

Cite this data set as follows:

Kinyamario, J. I. 1996. NPP Grassland: Nairobi, Kenya, 1984-1994. Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Description

Net primary production of a savanna grassland in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, was determined from 1984 to the present by monitoring monthly dynamics of live biomass and dead matter, above and below-ground, together with monthly litter bag estimates of decomposition rates above and below-ground. The method for calculating net primary production accounted for simultaneous growth and death, and carbon flows to all trophic levels. Work was carried out under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Project on "Primary Productivity of Grass Ecosystems of the Tropics" and continued under subsequent UNEP and UK-ODA (Overseas Development Administration) sponsored international projects.

The 100 m x 150 m study site is situated at the southern end of Nairobi National Park (1.33 S, 36.83 E), about 30 km south-east of Nairobi. The area is a typical East African grass savanna, which was used as grazing or holding ground for cattle for many years prior to the establishment of Nairobi National Park in 1946, when cattle grazing ceased and the area became a refuge for large herbivores.

Net primary productivity was determined, initially under the auspices of a collaborative UNEP Project, since there was a lack of information on the productive capacity and carbon cycling of East African grasslands. Complete data are available from 1984 to 1986, including a very dry year (1984) and a wet year (1985). Data collection ceased in 1987, but resumed 1988-1991, including a separate plot which was mown (clipped) to ground level in September 1989.

Contact Information

Contact: Prof. J. I. Kinyamario
Department of Botany
Biological Sciences Building
University of Nairobi
P.O. Box 30197
Nairobi
KENYA

Telephone: +254 (2) 447665 or 447865
Mobile phone: +254 (733) 835741
Fax: +254 (2) 449845
E-mail: jenesiok@uonbi.ac.ke

Click on the following linked phrase to view references and summaries. More detailed information is available in the associated guide document.

Graphs Image
Click on the "Graphs" box to view a series of data plots for this site, e.g., biomass dynamics, climate data.