PHD-Department of Environmental Education

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Browsing PHD-Department of Environmental Education by Author "Wanjohi, Kinyua Michael"

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    Agro-economics of cereal-legume innovations and their influence on farmer household decision making and knowledge in Babati, Tanzania
    (Kenyatta University, 2024-10) Wanjohi, Kinyua Michael
    The robust linkage between soil fertility, food security and smallholder farmer economies unveil the need for developing agronomic innovations that improve soil fertility while ensuring climate resilience of smallholder systems. Introduced innovations should not only be targeted to achieve holistic improvement in cereal-legume productivity but also boost farmer knowledge without compromising the existing gender relations. For this reason, a study was conducted in Babati District of Tanzania guided by the following objectives, to: i) assess the economics of improved cropping systems in Gallapo, Sabilo and Riroda villages of Babati, ii) examine the effect of different cropping systems on biological nitrogen fixation of intercropped legumes, iii) evaluate how different cropping systems influence crop physiological characteristics and soil physical-chemical properties, iv) assess the influence of farmer gender on agricultural-based decisions making involving implementation of improved cropping systems, and v) examine how different socio-economic factors affect farmer knowledge on implementing improved cropping systems. Experimental trials were established to address objectives 1, 2 and 3 while household surveys addressed objectives 4 and 5. Six on-farm trials were set in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Eight treatments were laid on 5 m × 7 m plots comprising different intercropping options under uniform N (50 kg ha-1) and P (20 kg ha-1) fertilization regime. Cropping systems tested were a business-as-usual and an improved maize-legume system with and without de-topping, sole maize, Mbili-Mbili, doubled-up legume and maize (vertical leaf architecture) intercropped with pigeon pea. Probability proportionate to size sampling was conducted during enrollment of farmers for participatory technology testing. Results indicated that maize equivalent yields of between 2.0 t ha-1 in sole maize and maize-pigeon pea with no de-topping in 2019 to 12.2 t ha-1 in doubled-up legume in 2021 season. Mbili-Mbili was stable across seasons and earned more net benefits (US$ 150; p≤0.01) and highest value cost ratio (8.1; p≤0.001) than other intercropping options. Biological nitrogen fixation indicated pigeon pea to fix between 23–120 kg N ha-1 depending on site and season. Doubled-up legume had significantly higher and earlier pigeon pea branch and flower development than treatments under maize-pigeon pea system. Male household heads made 50-73% of decisions relating to Mbili-Mbili and 37-66% for doubled-up legume. Decisions on control of incomes were dominated by male household heads (42%), joint decision by male household heads + female spouses (29.5%), female spouses (22.2%) and other household members (7%). Four independent factors i.e., technical, functional, application, and soil fertility had a positive association explaining 71% of variation in farmer knowledge on Mbili-Mbili and 76.5% for doubled-up legume. The most significant socio-demographical drivers of farmer knowledge were age and gender of farmer, household size, distance of plot from homestead, type of farmer engagement, and years of farming experience. In conclusion, Mbili-Mbili is a cropping system with a potential for increasing productivity and climate resilience of smallholder farmers in areas characterized by similar agro-ecological conditions as Babati. However, cheaper mechanization strategy is needed to reduce labor demands which this study identified as the main disincentive for its adoption by farmers