Organic residue effects on soil physical and chemical properties in Kenya

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Date
2005Author
Mugendi, D.N.
Waswa, B. N.
Vanlauwe, B.
Nandwa, S.
Kung'u, J.B.
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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