The current study seeks to assess sustainability of agricultural land use by identifying the effect of land use change on soil quality using cross-sectional data collected through a household survey among 525 farm households in densely populated areas of Kenya. Soil samples were collected, analyzed and compared across three land use types: undisturbed, semi-disturbed and cultivated. To achieve these objectives, descriptive, Nutrient Index approach and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis methods were used.

Poverty is a critical problem in many parts of the world, especially in the developing countries. This has necessitated policy makers to have a keen interest in seeking ways of improving livelihoods and alleviating poverty. Agriculture remains a key sector for spurring growth, overcoming poverty, and creating employment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa. However, in areas where land acreage is small, it has become difficult to carry out any profitable agricultural production as a means of livelihood sustenance.

Global land acquisition and lease investments in developing countries by foreign companies have elicited a lot of controversy and interest in recent literature. Well-structured foreign land leases and investments might offer development benefits to the host countries including opportunities for employment, provision of capital for improvement of infrastructure and stabilization of food prices. However, most foreign land lease deals in Africa are often characterized by secret negotiations and lack of local stakeholder consultations.