Improving soil nutrients and water management to increase crop yield for enhanced livelihoods of small scale farmers in semi-arid eastern Kenya
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Date
2010-09
Authors
Mochoge, B. O.
Danga, B. O.
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Abstract
Food insecurity in Kenya is on the increase unless appropriate
measures are taken. This is because nearly 80% of the land is
arid to semi-arid and therefore not favorable for crop production
using the current methods of production. The issue is limited
nutrient use efficiency and low moisture storage in soils to
warrant plant growth. This calls urgently for appropriate
technologies to be put in place in order to increase moisture
storage in soils and increase nutrient use efficiency to spur
food production in semi-arid fragile ecosystems. A study to
respond to low moisture content in soils and inefficient use of
nutrients is being initiated at Gachoka, semi-arid Eastern Kenya.
The study will evaluate moisture storage in soil due to run-off
rain water captured in the trapezoidal bunds and how this will
impact the availability and uptake of nutrients. Use of manure
to increase water retention in soils and to provide mineral N
through mineralization, and application of N and P fertilizers to
supplement the soil available nutrients for sustainable soil fertility
management will be part of the treatments. Plots within the
bunds measuring 4.5 m x 4.5 m will be used for treatments and
maize and cowpea will be the test crops. Available soil moisture
content will be measured using neutron water meter and
tensiometers while available plant nutrients (NH4,NO3 and P)
in soil and nutrients contents in plants will be analyzed.
Treatments will be factorial and randomized in a complete block
design. The data will be subjected to analysis of variance and
regression. Nutrient use efficiency and gross returns will be
calculated. Expected outputs will include increased knowledge
on trapezoidal bunds on water storage by researchers and
farmers, higher crop yields, general increase of soil productivity
and its sustainable management, and training of two MSc
students.
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Keywords
Kenya, nutrient use efficiency, run-off collection, simulation models, soil moisture storage, Trapezoidal bund
Citation
Second RUFORUM Biennial Meeting 20 - 24 September 2010, Entebbe, Uganda