The role of plant residues in soil productivity: farmers' knowledge and practices in Embu District, Kenya
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Date
2005
Authors
Gitari, J. N.
Mugendi, D.N.
Mureithi, J. G.
Kung'u, J.B.
Gachene, C.K.K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Soil Science Society of East Africa National Research Laboratories
Abstract
Plantresidues from trees, crops or weeds
playan important role in determining the soil
fertilitystatus in smallholder farmers of the
centralhighlands of Kenya region. A study
wasconducted in Embu district of Kenya,
locatedin the densely populated windward
side of the south-eastern slopes of Mount
Kenya,to document farmers knowledge and
practices in the prevalence and utilisation
ofthese residues. A total of 134 small-scale
farmers cutting across five major agroecological
zones of the 30 km transect were
interviewed. Farmers indicated that trees,
crops or weed residues found in their farms
were associated with generation of plant
residueswhicheitherimproveorimpoverish
the farm niches where they are found. Plant
residues that were associated with soil
fertility enhancement included: Zea mays,
Physeolus vulgaris, Grevillea robusta,
Combretum molle, Cordia africana, ,
sycomorous, and Camellina sinensis.
other hand, the residues of Eucalyptus
saligna, Macadamia integrifolia, Cupressus
lusitanica, Croton megalocarpus,
mearnsii, Sorghum bicolour and Mangifera
indica continued to impoverish the soil in the
farm fields where they occur. The farmers years
attributed the good or poor crop
performance in farm sections with certain
types of plant residues to the decomposability
as well as the levels of crop nutrients
contained in these residues. The implication
of these farmers' perception on the farming
patterns prevailing in this region were that
there was a shift toward more cultivation of
crop or trees species that were associated
with soil fertility enhancement.
Description
Proceedings of the 21st Annual Confrence of the SSEA that was held in Eldoret Kenya from 1st-5th December 2003
Keywords
Smallholder farmers, farmers' knowledge, trees, crops, soil improvement, soil impoverishing, farm niches