Organic residue effects on soil physical and chemical properties in Kenya

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the influence of organic resource management on selected soil chemical properties in central and western highlands of Kenya. Three ongoing experiments (Kabete, Masenoand Embu) involving the integration of organic and inorganic resources as nutrient sources were selected. The choice of these experiments was based on the different organic resources applied, their Key words: Soil organic matter, soil fertility lifespan as well as their unique ecological locations that characterize most smallholder fanning areas in Kenya. These experiments involved the application of Tithonia diversijolia, Senna spectabilis, Leucaena leucocephala and Calliandra calothyrsus as organic nutrient sources to a maize crop which were compared to fertilizer and). control treatments. Soils were sampled from these experiments and analysed for inorganicnitrogen, total carbon, nitrogen, bulk density and potassium permanganate oxidizable carbon. In addition, SOM