Effect of farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers on maize production on Alfisols and Ultisols in Kakamega, western Kenya

Abstract

Soil acidity is one property associated with decline of most crop productivity. Alfisols and Ultisols are some of the acidic soils predominant in western Kenya. An experiment was conducted in both soils to find out the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers on maize yield on farmers' fields during wet and dry seasons of 2006. The experiment, laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), had five replications in each soil type. The treatments were: farmer's practice, N (60 kg ha ). During wet season, all treatments in Alfisols gave nearly double grain yield compared to Ultisols. In both soils, during the same season, except for optimal fertilizer, FYM was not significantly (P≤0.05) different from other inorganic fertilizer treatments on plant population, height, cob number, stover, grain yield and 100-seed weight. FYM had a 108% and 103% grain yield advantage over farmer's treatment in Alfisols and Ultisols, respectively. During dry season, plant population, number of cobs and grain yield were higher in Ultisols compared to Alfisols. In each soil type, FYM plus 30 kg N ha -1 provided maize grain yield equivalent to that of N, NP and NPK treatments. FYM had a 4% grain yield advantage over optimal and NPK treatments on Ultisols during dry season. We conclude that larger amount of fertilizers or liming is needed on Ultisols to enhance their productivity to the level of Alfisols and that due to the fact that smallholder farmers are not likely to afford large amount of fertilizer and liming, use of FYM is their best bet for maize production on both Alfisols and Ultisols as there is no significant yield advantage from N, NP or NPK over FYM. Ultisols appear to be more responsive to FYM during dry season probably due to prevailing higher temperatures and relatively dry soil which enhances faster mineralization of organic matter to available plant nutrients. Addition of N fertilizer failed to increase yield in Ultisols, probably due to decline in soil pH and consequently inefficient utilization of applied resources.

Chemical and Microbiological Attributes Under Different Soil Cover

“…In CN, the low pH values of both layers studied may also be related to the intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers, mainly as ammonium or amide, which generate H + to be nitrified in the soil (ACHIENG et al 2010;YANG et al, 2012), favoring soil acidity. The areas in environmental recovery and with remnants of native vegetation had significantly higher pH values due to addition of plant residues and transformation processes of OM by intense microbial activity, which can provide higher carbon accumulation in the soil surface (EFFGEN et al, 2012).…”

Effect of enriched farmyard manure and inorganic fertilizers on grain yield and harvest index of hybrid maize (bh-140) at Chiro, eastern Ethiopia

“…Planting was done in May 2008May , 2009May , 2010 at a rate of 25 kg/ha. Enriched FYM was prepared by adding 10 kg of urea by pit method in12 m 3 pit from cattle manure and subjected to microbial fermentation for 90 days before field application (Debelle et al, 2001;Achieng et al, 2010) Urea (46-0-0) and DAP (46-18-0) were used as sources of N and P, respectively. All P fertilizer and half dose of N fertilizer as per treatment were applied as basal application at planting and the remainder N was top-dressed at 35 days after planting and FYM was applied each year for one month before the sowing date.…”

Climate change in semi-arid Malawi: Perceptions, adaptation strategies and water governance

“…This result concurs with Achieng et al . (2010:436), who reported that farmyard manure from a combination of cow dung and urine provide a balanced nutrition to plants and hence enhance crop productivity. Reduction in maize yield is mainly attributed to midseason drought or prolonged dry spells (Table 5) and increasing prevalence of the crop pests.…”