Tied-ridging and integrated nutrient management options for sustainable crop production in semi-arid eastern Kenya

• Authors and affiliations

• J.M. Miriti
  • 1
• A.O. Esilaba
  • 2
• A. Bationo
  • 3
• H. Cheruiyot
  • 2
• J. Kihumba
  • 1
• E.G. Thuranira
  • 4

1. 1.National Agricultural Research CentreKenya Agricultural Research InstituteNairobiKenya
2. 2.Desert Margins ProgrammeKenya Agricultural Research InstituteNairobiKenya
3. 3.Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF-CIAT)c/o World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) United Nations AvenueGigiriKenya
4. 4.National Agricultural Research LaboratoriesKenya Agricultural Research InstituteNairobiKenya

Author

J.M. Miriti

A.O. Esilaba

A. Bationo

H. Cheruiyot

J. Kihumba

E.G. Thuranira

Conference paper

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_40

Cite this paper as: 

Miriti J., Esilaba A., Bationo A., Cheruiyot H., Kihumba J., Thuranira E. (2007) Tied-ridging and integrated nutrient management options for sustainable crop production in semi-arid eastern Kenya. In: Bationo A., Waswa B., Kihara J., Kimetu J. (eds) Advances in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, Dordrecht

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two seasons at Emali, Makueni District in Eastern Kenya to compare the effect of tied ridging and integrated nutrient management practices on the yield of rainfed maize (Zeamays L.) and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.). The main treatments were flat bed (FB, traditional farmers’ practice) and tied ridging (TR) as main plots. The manure and fertilizers were farmyard manure (FYM, goat manure at 0 and 5 t ha-1) in a factorial combination with nitrogen (N fertilizer at 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha-1) and P fertilizer at 0 and 40 kg P ha-1 as the subplots in a split-plot treatment arrangement of a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results from maize yield data in the continuous maize cropping systems indicate that maize stover was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased by the application of 5 t ha-1 of manure in both seasons. Tied ridges, manure and fertilizer did not affect grain yields in the first season. However, mean grain yields obtained in plots with tied-ridges and manure were higher by 11% and 14% compared to plots without tied ridges and manure respectively. There was a significant interaction between manure and nitrogen which gave higher stover yields in the 2003 long rains season. Under the cowpeas–maize intercropping system, tied ridges and manure application did not have a significant effect on maize yields in both seasons. Application of nitrogen significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased maize stover by 29% and TDM yields by 50% in first and second season respectively when compared with treatments without nitrogen. Nitrogen application also increased cowpea stem and TDM yields by 57% and 45% respectively in the second season. Cowpea yields were not affected by tied-ridges in both seasons. There was significant effects of manure, nitrogen, manure * nitrogen and tied ridging * nitrogen interactions on cowpea stem and TDM in 2003 short rains season. In general, the combination of tie-ridges with manure or nitrogen gave higher maize and cowpea yields than when these factors are applied alone. These preliminary results indicate that tied ridging in combination with integrated nutrient management has the potential to improve crop production in semi-arid eastern Kenya

References

1. Barron J. 2004. Dry spell mitigation to upgrade semi-arid agriculture: Water harvesting and soil nutrient management for small holder maize cultivation in Machakos, Kenya. PhD. Thesis, Stockholm University, Sweden.
2. Biamah E.K., Rockstrom J. and Okwach G.E. 2000. Conservation tillage for dryland farming. Technical options and experiences in eastern and Southern Africa. Workshop report N0. 3. RELMA, SIDA, Kenya, 151p.Google Scholar
3. Brouwer J. and Bouma J. 1997. Soil crop growth variability in Sahel: Highlights of research (990–1995) at ICRISAT Sahelian Centre. Information bulletin. No. 49. ICRISAT, Patacheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India, p. 42.
4. Fox P. and Rockström J. 2003. Supplemental irrigation for dry-spell mitigation of rainfed agriculture in the Sahel. Agricultural Water Management 1817: 1–22.Google Scholar
5. Freeman H.A. and Coe R. 2002. Smallholder farmers’ use of integrated nutrient management strategies: patterns and possibilities in Machakos District of Eastern Kenya. In: Barret C.B., Place F. and Aboud A.A. (Eds). Natural Resources Management in African Agriculture: Understanding and Improving Current Practices. CAB. International Wallingford, UK, pp.143–154.Google Scholar
6. Gichangi E.M., Njiru E.N., Itabari J.K., Wambua J.M. and Maina J.N. 2003. Assessment of improved soil fertility and water technologies through community based on-farm trials in the ASALs of Kenya. A Paper presented at the 1st KARI Adaptive Research Conference 16–19 June 2003. Nairobi, Kenya.
7. Jaetzold R. and Schmidt H. 1983. Farm Management Handbook of Kenya. Vol. II/C : Natural conditions and farm management information. Ministry of Agriculture/GTZ, Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
8. Jensen J.R., Bernhard R.H., Hansen S., McDonagh J., Möberg J.P., Nielsen N.E. and Nordbo E. 2003. Productivity in maize based cropping systems under various soil–water-nutrient management strategies in semi-arid alfisol environment in East Africa. Agricultural Water Management 59: 217–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Kamoni P.T., Mburu M.W. and Gachene C.K.K. 2003. Influence of irrigation and nitrogen fertiliser on maize growth, nitrogen uptake and yield in semi-arid Kenyan environment. E. Afr. Agric. For. J. 69(2): 99–18.Google Scholar
10. Keating B.A., Siambi M.N. and Wafula B.M. 1992. The impact of climatic variability on cropping research in semi–arid Kenya between 1955 and 1985. In: Probert. M.E. (Ed.) A search for strategies for Sustainable dryland Cropping in semi-arid Eastern Kenya. ACIAR Proceedings. 41: 16–25.
11. Kihanda F.M., Warren G.P. and Atwal S.S. 2004. The influence of goat manure application on crop yield and soil nitrates variations in semi-arid eastern Kenya. In : Bationo (Ed.). Managing Nutrient Cycles to Sustain Soil Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. Academy of Sciences Publishers in association with the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT: pp. 173–186.
12. Kipserem L.K. 1996. Water harvesting on entric Fluvisols of Njemps Flats of Baringo district. A paper presented at the Dryland applied Research and Extension Project (DAREP) workshop at Embu from 4–6 June, 1996.
13. Lal R. 1995. Tillage systems in the tropics. Management options and sustainability implications. FAO Soils Bulletin No. 71. FAO Rome.Google Scholar
14. Liniger H.P. 1990. Agroecology and water conservation for rainfed farming in the semi-arid footzone west and northwest of Mount Kenya: consequences on water resources and soil productivity. Geographica-Bernensia. African Studies Series Switzerland. Monographs v. A8, pp. 95–105.
15. McCown R.L. and Jones R.K. 1992. Agriculture of semi-arid areas of eastern Kenya: problems and possibilities. In: Probert. M.E. (Ed.) A search for strategies for Sustainable dryland Cropping in semi-arid Eastern Kenya. ACIAR Proceedings 41: 8–14.
16. Mellis D. 1996. Water harvesting and conservation tillage: Exploring and adapting with farmers in semi-arid Kenya. A Paper presented at the DAREP soil and water harvesting/conservation tillage workshop 4–6 June 1996. Embu, Kenya.
17. Miriti J.M., Odera M.M., Kimani S.K., Kihumba J.N., Esilaba A.O. and Ngae G. N. 2003. On-Farm demonstrations to determine farmers’ subjective preference for technology-specific attributes in tied-ridges: Preliminary results. A Paper presented at the 1st KARI Adaptive Research Conference 16–19 June 2003. Nairobi, Kenya.
18. Njihia C.M. 1977. The effect of tied ridges, stover mulch and farmyard manure on rainfall abstraction in a medium potential area, Katumani, Kenya. Paper presented at the International Conference on role of soil physical properties, Dec 1977. International Institute. of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Ibadan, Nigeria.Google Scholar
19. Okalebo J.R., Gathua K.W. and Woomer P.L. 2002. Laboratory methods of soil and plant analysis: A working Manual. 2nd Edn. TSBF- CIAT and sacred Africa, Nairobi Kenya.Google Scholar
20. Omiti J.M., Freeman H.A., Kaguongo W. and Bett C. 1999. Soil fertility maintenance in Eastern Kenya: Current practices, constraints and opportunities. CARMASAK working paper No. 1. KARI/ICRISAT, Nairobi, Kenya.Google Scholar
21. Probert M.E., Okalebo J.R., Simpson J.R. and Jones R.K. 1992. The role of boma manure for improving soil fertility. In: Probert. M.E. (Ed.) A search for strategies for Sustainable dryland Cropping in semi-arid Eastern Kenya. ACIAR Proceedings. 41: 63–70.
22. Rockström J. 2003. Water for food and nature in drought-prone tropics: Vapour shift in rainfed agriculture. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. 358(1440): 1997–2009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

For further details log on website :
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_40