Browsing by Author "Mwadalu, Riziki"

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    The potential role of sorghum in enhancing food security in semi-arid eastern Kenya: A review
    (Journal of Applied Biosciences, 2013) Mwadalu, Riziki; Mwangi, Maina
    Successive droughts in Kenya compounded with other socio-economic constraints have led to persistently unstable and declining agricultural productivity in semi-arid eastern Kenya. This has given rise to the need to find coping strategies that would include growing alternative crops that are drought tolerant and thus suitable for the areas. Research in Kenya and elsewhere has shown that sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has the potential to end severe food insecurity in ASALs due to its tolerance to drought and ability to thrive under a wide range of soils. However, research and government policy in Kenya have shown a continual inclination to maize production in these areas though the crop is regarded a high risk option due to poor adaptation especially to the low rainfall. This paper reviews the potential of sorghum for improving food security in ASALs of Kenya with specific focus on semi-arid eastern Kenya. This will contribute to the ongoing debate to inform private and public sector policy and investments for increasing production of sorghum and other drought tolerant crops in the ASALs as a way of alleviating food insecurity and poverty
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    Review of Scientific Advances and Importance of Biochar for Agricultural and Industrial Uses
    (International Journal of Bioresource Science, 2024-12-07) Mwadalu, Riziki; Ndufa, James; Maitra, Sagar; Gweyi-Onyango, Joseph; Gitari, Harun
    Biochar has been known as an effective soil amendment with capabilities of boosting soil moisture storage, increasing soil fertility, and enhancing crop productivity. Biochar also has the potential for industrial use for wastewater treatment, water purification, steel making, building insulation, and air pollution control. The current metadata analysis evaluated the importance of biochar for agricultural and industrial uses and its relevance for use in Kenya. A total of 120 reference materials comprising journal papers, conference proceedings, and book chapters were used. Numerous studies conducted across the globe have documented the positive effects of biochar in increasing available soil nutrients (increased by 28.6% and phosphorus by 2 folds), lowering bulk density by 3-31%, enhancing soil moisture storage by 18-108%, and boosting microbial activities in the soil thus enhancing nutrient cycling. The metadata analysis also showed that biochar can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 33% thereby mitigating climate change. Biochar equally increased maize yield by 32-135% and rice yield by 8.5-10.7%. The review also showed that biochar can play a crucial role in different industrial uses such as wastewater treatment, steel making, and water purification. Some of the main impediments to the adoption of biochar were; the lack of a regulatory framework to govern the sector and the lack of a decision support system for use by end users.