Zai Technology and Integrated Nutrient Management for Improved Soil Fertility and Increased Sorghum Yields in Kitui County, Kenya

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dc.contributor.authorKebenei, Mercy Cheruto
dc.contributor.authorMucheru-Muna, Monicah
dc.contributor.authorMuriu-Ng’ang’a, Felista
dc.contributor.authorNdung’u, Charles Kimani
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-28T11:46:33Z
dc.date.available2023-07-28T11:46:33Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.descriptionArticleen_US
dc.description.abstractDeteriorating soil fertility, low unreliable rainfall and soil moisture stress has resulted to low crop yields among farmers of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), necessitating a search for more sustainable production practices. Zai technology has the ability to promote soil moisture retention and enhances soil fertility. A four-seasons field experiment was conducted to assess the impact of Zai technology combined with cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer on selected soil properties and sorghum yields in Kabati, Kitui County. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with eight treatments replicated thrice with sorghum Gadam as the test crop. Soil sampling was done at the beginning of the first season and at the end of the fourth season at a dept of 0–15 cm across each plot for laboratory analyses. From the results, the increase in electrical conductivity was significant at p < 0.05 in all the treatments after four cropping seasons. Total organic carbon significantly increased in Zai with cattle manure (p = 0.045), conventional with no input (p = 0.038) and conventional with cattle manure (p = 0.045). Available phosphorous significantly (p < 0.05) increased in treatments under Zai technology while total nitrogen significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after the four cropping seasons. There was a significant (p < 0.05) interactive effect of the tested factors on soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, and available phosphorous at the end of the experiment. Moreover, there was significant (p < 0.05) interactive effects on grain yields (SR18 and SR19 seasons) and stover yields (SR18, LR19, and SR19 seasons), with higher yields being recorded in treatments under Zai technology. This study demonstrates the importance of Zai technology in increasing crop yield by trapping water and enhancing its retention and infiltration into the soil for uptake by plants. This study concluded that positive impacts on important soil properties and crop yield could be realized when Zai technology is utilized alongside either sole inorganics or a combination of organic and inorganic amendments and this could be used as a strategy to improve crop production in eastern Kenya and other similar areas.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Research Fund, Kenyaen_US
dc.identifier.citationKebenei, M. C., Mucheru-Muna, M., Muriu-Ng'ang'a, F., & Ndung'u, C. K. (2021). Zai technology and integrated nutrient management for improved soil fertility and increased sorghum yields in Kitui county, Kenya. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 714212.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.714212
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/26459
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherFrontiers in Sustainable food Systemsen_US
dc.subjectZai technologyen_US
dc.subjectsorghumen_US
dc.subjectintegrated nutrient managementen_US
dc.subjectsoil fertilityen_US
dc.subjectcattle manureen_US
dc.subjectmineral fertilizeren_US
dc.subjecttotal nitrogenen_US
dc.titleZai Technology and Integrated Nutrient Management for Improved Soil Fertility and Increased Sorghum Yields in Kitui County, Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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