Edaphic and Topographic Constraints on Exploitation of the Central Kenya Rift by Large Mammals and Early Hominins

Soil samples were analysed using standard protocols provided by KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation). For thin soils, we generally sampled the uppermost horizon (<25cm). Soil and plant tissue analysis was carried out at the KALRO laboratories. During field seasons in 2013 and 2014 a total of 163 soil samples and 160 plant tissue samples in the Kenya Rift from Lake Magadi in the south to Lake Baringo in the north. All samples were tested for concentration of the following trace elements and nutrients: calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn). Further, soil samples were tested for pH-value, electrical conductivity, and total organic carbon (Table S1). Water samples from springs and boreholes around Lake Elmenteita to test for fluoride are also shown. The location of sample sites are tabulated (Table S2). The consequences of excess or deficiency of certain elements are shown in Table S3.

本研究采用肯尼亚农业与畜牧研究组织（Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation，简称KALRO）提供的标准操作规程对土壤样品进行分析。针对薄土层，通常采集其表层（<25cm）的样品。土壤与植物组织样品的检测工作均在KALRO实验室完成。2013年与2014年的野外调查季期间，研究人员在肯尼亚裂谷带（南起马加迪湖，北至巴林戈湖）共采集163份土壤样品与160份植物组织样品。所有样品均针对以下微量元素与营养元素的浓度开展检测：钙（Ca）、铜（Cu）、铁（Fe）、锰（Mn）、镁（Mg）、氮（N）、钾（K）、钠（Na）、磷（P）及锌（Zn）。此外，土壤样品还检测了pH值、电导率与总有机碳含量（详见附表S1）。本次研究同时展示了埃尔门泰塔湖周边泉眼与钻孔水样的氟化物检测结果。采样点位的位置信息已整理为表格（附表S2）。部分元素过量或缺乏所产生的影响详见附表S3。