Michoma, Justine Mwambi2020-10-022020-10-022019-11http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/20490A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Masters of Science (Agronomy) in the School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development, Kenyatta University, November, 2019Decline in yields and frequent failure of major crops in Embu and Kiambu counties, Kenya, is linked to inadequate or unevenly distributed rainfall and poor agronomic practices, among other factors. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of using mulch and hydrogel in production of yellow passion fruit in Embu and Kiambu Counties, Kenya. The study was set up specifically to (i) determine the effect of mulch and hydrogel on soil moisture and nutrients in a yellow passion fruit orchard, (ii) to assess the effect of mulch and hydrogel on growth, yield and quality of yellow passion fruit, and (iii) to evaluate the economic benefits of mulch and hydrogel in production of yellow passion fruit. The study sites were; Ugweri (Embu County), and Kenyatta University. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was adopted. There were six treatments; (1) hydrogel 10 grams + plastic mulch (H10 g + PM), (2) hydrogel 10 grams + grass mulch (H10 g + GM), (3) plastic mulch (PM), (4) grass mulch (GM), (5) hydrogel 20 grams (H20 g), and (6) control. Key variables measured were growth (vine length), yields (fruit weight), soil moisture, soil chemical properties (total N, total C, extractable P, and exchangeable cations (Ca, K and Mg), and economic data. Data was subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using SAS version 9.3. Results showed that at Ugweri, H10 g + PM treatment had soil moisture content of 192.14 mm at 215 days after transplanting (DAT), 165.13 mm at 229 DAT, 150.91 mm at 243 DAT, 154.73 mm at 257 DAT, 145.69 mm at 271 DAT and 142.67 mm at 285 DAT, which ranked significantly higher compared to other treatments. The highest average soil moisture of 135.24 mm, 134.29 mm, 122.46 mm, 131.70 mm, 115.20 mm and 111.52 mm at Kenyatta University site during 216, 230, 244, 258, 272 and 286 DAT respectively, was recorded in H10 g + PM. At all sites, treatments did not significantly affect soil nutrients; N, P, K, C, Ca and Mg. At 10 weeks after transplanting (WAT), H10 g + PM treatment had the highest average vine length (248.22 cm) at Ugweri, and (89.21cm) at Kenyatta University. At Ugweri, the H10 g + PM had the highest average yields; 1.20 t/ha, 1.60 t/ha, 2.30 t/ha, 2.02 t/ha and 1.69 t/ha during 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 WAT respectively. At Kenyatta University, the highest average fruit weight of 1.10 t/ha at 44 WAT; 1.37 t/ha at 46 WAT; 2.03 t/ha at 48 WAT; 1.59 t/ha at 50 WAT and 1.29 t/ha at 52 WAT were recorded in H10g + PM treatment. At Ugweri, H10 g + PM and H10g + GM treatments provided higher net benefit (NB) of 2599.00 USD/ha and 2455.10 USD/ha; benefit cost ratio (BCR) of 1.54 and 1.59; and return to labor (RL) of 5.00 and 5.21, respectively. At Kenyatta University, the treatment with H10g + PM provided a net benefit of 3390.40 USD/ha, significantly higher compared to other treatments. The treatments; H10g + PM and H10g + GM provided BCR of 2.02 and 1.78; and RL of 6.36 and 5.70 respectively, significantly higher compared to other treatments. Results showed that H10 g + PM and H10 g + GM performed better compared to other treatments in yields and net benefits. The use of hydrogel plus mulching for soil water conservation is therefore recommended for farmers in Embu and Kiambu counties.enSoil WaterYellow Passion FruitMulch and HydrogelEmbuKiambu CountiesKenyaThesis