Economic analysis of maize-bean production using a soil fertility replenishment product (PREP-PAC) in Western Kenya

Nekesa, P; Maritim, H.K.; Okalebo, J. R.; Woolmer, P L

doi:10.4314/acsj.v7i4.27752

Cited by 15 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Soils at the study sites had generally low soil fertility (Table 10) and the farmers considered these the most fertility-depleted areas of their farms (Nekesa et al 1999). Table 9.…”

Section: Crop Responses To Inorganic Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…PREP-PAC consists of 2 kg MPR, 0.2 kg urea, 120 g food legume seed, rhizobial inoculant (Biofix) packed with lime pellets to raise the pH of the inoculated seed environment and gum Arabic sticker to hold the inoculant onto the surface of the seed and instructions for use written in English, Kiswahili and local dialects. One packet is designed to replenish soil fertility of patches of size 25-m 2 (Nekesa et al 1999). …”

Section: Crop Responses To Inorganic Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa

Okalebo

Othieno

Woomer³

et al. 2006

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Low inherent soil fertility in the highly weathered and leached soils largely accounts for low and unsustained crop yields in most African countries. But in particular, the major nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), are commonly deficient in these soils. This scenario of nutrient depletion is reflected in food deficits and hence the food aid received continuously, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa. Undoubtedly, substantial efforts have been made in the continent to replenish the fertility of degraded soils in attempts to raise crop yields, towards self-sufficiency and export. Such efforts consist of applications of both organic and inorganic resources to improve the nutrient status of soils and enhanced nutrient uptake by crops, provided that soil moisture is adequate. Overall, positive crop responses to these materials have been obtained. Thus in the East African region, maize (staple) yields have been raised in one growing season from below 0.5 t/ha without nutrient inputs, to 3-5 t/ha from various nutrient amendments at the smallhold farm level. However, in spite of the positive crop responses to nutrient inputs, farmers are generally slow to adopt the soil fertility management technologies. In this paper we review the impact of some technologies, focussing the use of nutrient resources of different characteristics (qualities) in relation to improved crop yields, with an overall goal to enhance technology adoption. Thus, inorganic resources or fertilizers often give immediate crop responses, but their use or adoption is rather restricted to large-scale farmers who can afford to buy these materials. Organic resources, which include crop residues, water hyacinth and agroforestry shrubs and trees, are widely distributed, but they are generally of low quality, reflecting the need to apply large quantities to meet crop nutrient demands. Moreover, most organics will add N mainly to soils. On the other hand, phosphate rocks of varying reactivity are found widely in Africa and are refined elsewhere to supply soluble P sources. The recently developed soil fertility management options in East Africa have targeted the efficient use of N and P by crops and the integrated nutrient management approach. Some people have also felt that the repackaging of inputs in small, affordable quantities, such as the PREP-PAC described in this paper, may be an avenue to attract smallhold farmers to use nutrient inputs. Nonetheless, crop responses to nutrient inputs vary widely within and across agroecozones (AEZs), suggesting specificity in recommendations. We highlight this observation in a case study whereby eight soil fertility management options, developed independently, are being tested side-

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“…Soils at the study sites had generally low soil fertility (Table 10) and the farmers considered these the most fertility-depleted areas of their farms (Nekesa et al 1999). Table 9.…”

Section: Crop Responses To Inorganic Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Crop Responses To Inorganic Resourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa

Okalebo

Othieno

Woomer³

et al. 2006

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This product comprises PR (2 kg), urea (0.2 kg), legume seed, rhizobial seed inoculants, seed adhesive and lime pellet, packed to fertilize 25 m 2 of land. In Western Kenya the use of PREP-PAC and climbing bean package increased maize and bean yield by 0.72 and 0.25 t ha -1 respectively, resulting in a 161% return in investment (Nekesa et al, 1999). PREP-PAC use on bean for the two seasons in seven districts in Easter Uganda showed significant increases of 881 kg ha -1 in bean yield, increasing from 1,316 to 2,197 kg ha -1 (Esilaba et al, 2005).…”

Section: Wwwintechopencommentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Bean-Based Cropping Systems of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa

Lunze¹,

Abang²,

Buruchara³

et al. 2012

Soil Fertility Improvement and Integrated Nutrient Management - A Global Perspective

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“…However, analysis of results for the two seasons in 2000 on 41 non-test farms 329 in seven districts in eastern Uganda show significant increases of 881 kg ha À1 in bean 330 yield from 1316 to 2197 kg ha À1 . Bean yields in western Kenya were increased by 331 Prep-pacs from less than 200-500 kg ha À1 (Okalebo, 1999) and yields for bush and 332 climbing beans increased from 25 to 125 kg and from 200 to 450 kg ha, À1 respectively 333 (Nekesa et al, 1999). Use of a combined Prep-pac and climbing bean package in-334 creased maize and bean yields by 720 and 250 kg ha À1 , resulting in a 161% return 335 on investment.…”

Section: U N C O R R E C T E D P R O O Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, 315 both aluminium and manganese toxicity do not usually occur in the same soil. Re-316 ports from western Kenya show that Prep-pacs increased maize yields from an aver-317 age of 800 kg to almost 2000 kg ha À1 (Okalebo, 1999) and from 640 to 1360 kg ha À1 318 (Nekesa et al, 1999). Prep-pacs did not significantly increase bean yields on the test 319 farms but grain yields improved by 14-157 kg ha À1 in the two seasons in 2000 (Table 320 7 (Table 7).…”

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confidence: 98%

On farm testing of integrated nutrient management strategies in eastern Uganda

Esilaba

Byalebeka

Delve

et al. 2005

Agricultural Systems

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16This paper reports on a Participatory Learning and Action Research (PLAR) process that 17 was initiated in three villages in Eastern Uganda in September 1999 to enable small-scale farm-18 ers to reverse nutrient depletion of their soils profitably by increasing their capacity to develop, 19 adapt and use integrated natural resource management strategies. The PLAR process was also 20 used to improve the participatory skills and tools of research and extension personnel to sup-21 port this process. The farming systems of the area were characterised for socio-economic and 22 biophysical conditions that included social organisations, wealth categories, gender, crop, soil, 23 agro forestry and livestock production. Farmers identified soil fertility constraints, their indi-24 cators, and causes of soil fertility decline, and suggested strategies to address the problem of 25 soil fertility decline. Soil fertility management diversity among households indicated that most 26 farmers were not carrying out any improved soil fertility management practices, despite pre-27 vious research and dissemination in the area. Following the diagnosis stage and exposure visits 0308-521X/$ -see front matter Ó

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Economic analysis of maize-bean production using a soil fertility replenishment product (PREP-PAC) in Western Kenya

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa

Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa

Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Bean-Based Cropping Systems of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa

On farm testing of integrated nutrient management strategies in eastern Uganda

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