Farmers' evaluation of legume cover crops for erosion control in Gathwariga catchment, Kenya

Gachene, Ckk; Karanja, NK; Mureithi, J.G.; Khisa, P.; Maina, J.

doi:10.4314/ijard.v5i1.2579

Cited by 2 publications

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“…Soil chemical properties that are mostly adversely influenced by erosion or topsoil removal in SSA include pH, organic matter content, total N, available P, exchangeable bases, and cation exchange capacity [3, 21, 24-26, 28, 29, 31]. In an Alfisol in southwestern Nigeria, Lal [32] reported that the enrichment ratio (ER, the concentration of plant nutrients in eroded soil materials to that in residual soil) was 2.4 for organic matter, 1.6 for total N, 5.8 for available P, 1.7 for exchangeable K, 1.5 for exchangeable Ca, and 1.2 for exchangeable Mg. For another Alfisol in Central Kenya recording an annual soil loss of above 60 tons ha −1 , the corresponding values of the ER were 2.1, 1.2, 3.2, 1.5, 1.2, and 1.0, respectively [33].…”

Section: Soil Loss and Crops Yields In Sub-saharanmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The situation in SSA calls for more sustainable farming systems and underscores the need to look beyond the use of inorganic fertilizers as a means of restoring the productivity of naturally eroded soils in the region. Except in the case of gullies where urgent intervention may be needed, incorporation of cover cropping into our agronomic systems can help to conserve "yet-to-be-degraded" soils against degradation while forestalling further erosion from already "degraded" upland soils [33]. Such a soil management practice allows eroded soils the chance to restore the loss in productivity at a rate commensurate with their resilience.…”

Section: Sustaining Soil Productivity Against Land Degradation In Submentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, we only know of the extent of biological nitrogen fixation in Asian paddy fields, such is yet to be evaluated for the sawah systems in SSA with a different hydrophysical environment [50]. This is important, considering the low geological fertilization of the lowlands with respect to total N compared to available P [32,33]. Finally, the sawah hypothesis II is yet to be validated in SSA environments.…”

Section: Challenges Of the Sawah Ecotechnology In Sub-saharan Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil Degradation-Induced Decline in Productivity of Sub-Saharan African Soils: The Prospects of Looking Downwards the Lowlands with theSawahEcotechnology

Obalum

Buri

Nwite

et al. 2012

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

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The paper provides an insight into the problem of land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa, with emphasis on soil erosion and its effect on soil quality and productivity, and proposes a lowland-based rice-production technology for coping with the situation. Crop yields are, in addition to the degree of past and current erosion, determined by a number of interacting variables. This, coupled with the generally weak database on erosion-induced losses in crop yield in spite of the region’s high vulnerability to erosion, makes it difficult to attain a reliable inference on the cause-effect relationship between soil loss and productivity. Available data suggest, however, that the region is at risk of not meeting up with the challenges of agriculture in this 21st century. Based on the few studies reviewed, methodology appears to have an overwhelming influence on the erosion-productivity response, whereas issues bordering on physical environment and soil affect the shape of the response curve. We argue that thesawahecotechnology has the potential of countering the negative agronomic and environmental impacts of land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is a farmer-oriented, low-cost system of managing soil, water, and nutrient resources for enhancing lowland rice productivity and realizing Green Revolution in the region.

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Section: Soil Loss and Crops Yields In Sub-saharanmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Sustaining Soil Productivity Against Land Degradation In Submentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges Of the Sawah Ecotechnology In Sub-saharan Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil Degradation-Induced Decline in Productivity of Sub-Saharan African Soils: The Prospects of Looking Downwards the Lowlands with theSawahEcotechnology

Obalum

Buri

Nwite

et al. 2012

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

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“…Incorporating Mucuna pruriens biomass into the soil has been found to increase maize grain yields by 46% above the farmer practice in the central highlands of Kenya (Gitari et al ., 1998), while Gachene et al . (1999) reported 88% higher yields than the control after incorporating Mucuna pruriens .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Enhancing Maize Productivity and Profitability Using Organic Inputs and Mineral Fertilizer in Central Kenya Small-Hold Farms

et al. 2013

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SUMMARYDeclining land productivity is a major problem facing smallholder farmers today in Sub-Saharan Africa, and as a result increase in maize grain yield has historically staggered behind yield gains that have been achieved elsewhere in the world. This decline primarily results from reduction in soil fertility caused by continuous cultivation without adequate addition of external nutrient inputs. Improved soil fertility management practices, which combine organic and mineral fertilizer inputs, can enable efficient use of inputs applied, and can increase overall system's productivity. The trials were established at two sites with different soil fertility status to determine the effects of various organic sources (Tithonia diversifolia, Mucuna pruriens, Calliandra calothyrsus and cattle manure) and their combinations with mineral fertilizer on maize grain yield, economic return and soil chemical properties. Drought spells were common during the peak water requirement periods, and during all the seasons most (90%) of the rainfall was received before 50% flowering. In good and poor sites, there was a significant (p < 0.001) effect of season on maize grain yield. Tithonia diversifolia recorded the highest (4.2 t ha −1 ) average maize grain yield in the poor site, while Calliandra calothyrsus gave the highest (4.8 t ha −1 ) average maize grain yield in the good site. Maize grain yields were lower in treatments with sole fertilizer compared with treatments that included organic fertilizers. The maize grain yields were higher with sole organics compared with treatments integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers. Soil pH increment was statistically significant in the sole manure treatment in good and poor sites (t-test, p = 0.036 and 0.013), respectively. In the poor site, magnesium increased significantly in the sole manure and manure + 30 kg N ha −1 treatments with t-test p = 0.006 and 0.027, respectively. Soil potassium was significant in the sole manure treatment (t-test, p = 0.03). Generally the economic returns were low, with negative net benefits and benefit cost ratio of less than 1. Inorganic fertilizer recorded the highest net benefit and return to labour (p < 0.001 and <0.01, respectively) in the good site. The treatments that had very high maize grain yields did not lead to improved soil fertility, thus there is need for tradeoffs between yield gains and soil fertility management when selecting agricultural production technologies.

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Farmers' evaluation of legume cover crops for erosion control in Gathwariga catchment, Kenya

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Soil Degradation-Induced Decline in Productivity of Sub-Saharan African Soils: The Prospects of Looking Downwards the Lowlands with theSawahEcotechnology

Soil Degradation-Induced Decline in Productivity of Sub-Saharan African Soils: The Prospects of Looking Downwards the Lowlands with theSawahEcotechnology

Enhancing Maize Productivity and Profitability Using Organic Inputs and Mineral Fertilizer in Central Kenya Small-Hold Farms

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