Boaz Waswa

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

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A. Bationo

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Job Kihara

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

J.M. Kimetu

University of Calgary

Bernard Vanlauwe

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Jeremiah M. Okeyo

University of Embu

D.N. Mugendi

University of Embu

C. O. Othieno

University of Eldoret

J. R. Okalebo

University of Eldoret

Jimmy Kihara

Kenya Medical Research Institute

Peter Okoth

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Cooperative Institutions

International Center for Tropical Agriculture

World Agroforestry Centre

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

Moi University

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute

Wageningen University & Research

University of Nairobi

Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria

Cereal Research Centre

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EFFECT OF REDUCED TILLAGE AND MINERAL FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON MAIZE AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTIVITY

Experimental Agriculture (2011)

Jimmy Kihara A. Bationo Boaz Waswa J.M. Kimetu Bernard Vanlauwe

SUMMARY Reduced tillage is said to be one of the potential ways to reverse land degradation and ultimately increase the productivity of degrading soils of Africa. We hypothesised that crop yield following a modest application of 2 t ha −1 of crop residue in a reduced tillage system is similar to the yield obtained from a conventional tillage system, and that incorporation of legumes in a cropping system leads to greater economic benefits as opposed to a cropping system involving continuous maize. Three cropping systems (continuous maize monocropping, legume/maize intercropping and rotation) under different tillage and residue management systems were tested in sub-humid western Kenya over 10 seasons. While soybean performed equally well in both tillage systems throughout, maize yield was lower in reduced than conventional tillage during the first five seasons but no significant differences were observed after season 6. Likewise, with crop residue application, yields in conventional and reduced tillage systems are comparable after season 6. Nitrogen and phosphorus increased yield by up to 100% compared with control. Gross margins were not significantly different among the cropping systems being only 6 to 39% more in the legume–cereal systems relative to similar treatments in continuous cereal monocropping system. After 10 seasons of reduced tillage production, the economic benefits for our cropping systems are still not attractive for a switch from the conventional to reduced tillage.

Monocropping

Intercropping

Cropping system

Conventional tillage

Crop Residue

Crop Rotation

Strip-till

10.1017/s0014479711000895

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Citations (30)

Exploring Relevance of Agro Input Dealers in Disseminating and Communicating of Soil Fertility Management Knowledge: The Case of Siaya and Trans Nzoia Counties, Kenya

Agricultural information worldwide (2014)

T. B. Etyang Julius Juma Okello Shamie Zingore Peter Okoth Franklin Mairura

Abstract: In most parts of sub Saharan Africa (SSA), a lack of access to necessary agro-inputs contributes to low agricultural productivity and slows the overall economic growth and development. Agro-input dealers make inputs more easily accessible to rural-based smallholder farmers. This study assessed the role played by agro-input dealers in disseminating and communicating integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices and information to smallholder farmers in Siaya and Trans Nzoia counties in Kenya, and looked at agro-input dealers’ awareness of ISFM practices and communication channels used to access agricultural information. The study underscores the important role played by community based channels of communication in the ISFM knowledge dissemination and suggests a need to improve the provision of extension services to agro-input dealers to enable them effectively communicate information about ISFM technologies to farmers. Resume: Dans la plupart des regions de l'Afrique subsaharienne (ASS), le manque d'acces aux intrants agronomiques necessaires contribue a une faible productivite agricole et ralentit la croissance et le developpement economiques globaux. Les concessionnaires d'intrants agronomiques rendent les intrants plus facilement accessibles aux petits agriculteurs ruraux. Cette etude a evalue le role joue par les concessionnaires d'intrants agronomiques dans la diffusion et la communication de l’information sur les pratiques de gestion integree de la fertilite des sols (GIFS) aux petits exploitants agricoles pour les comtes de Siaya et Trans Nzoia au Kenya ; et a etudie la sensibilisation des concessionnaires d'intrants agronomiques aux pratiques de la GIFS et les canaux de communication utilises pour acceder aux informations agricoles. L'etude souligne le role important joue par les canaux de communication fondes sur la communaute dans la diffusion des connaissances de la GIFS et suggere la necessite d'ameliorer la fourniture de services de vulgarisation aux concessionnaires d'intrants agronomiques pour leur permettre de communiquer efficacement les informations sur les technologies de la GIFS aux agriculteurs. Resumen: En gran parte de Africa Subsahariana, la falta de acceso a los insumos agricolas necesarios contribuye a una baja productividad agricola y retarda el desarrollo y crecimiento economicos en general. Los distribuidores de insumos agricolas hacen que los insumos sean de mas facil acceso para los pequenos agricultores en zonas rurales. Este estudio evaluo el papel desempenado por los distribuidores de insumos agricolas en la difusion y comunicacion del practicas de manejo integrado de la fertilidad del suelo (MIFS) e informacion a los pequenos agricultores en los condados de Siaya y Trans Nzoia en Kenia, y analizo el conocimiento que tenian los distribuidores de insumos agricolas acerca de practicas de MIFS y los canales de comunicacion utilizados para acceder a la informacion agricola. El estudio resalta el papel importante que desempenan los canales comunitarios de comunicacion en la difusion de conocimientos acerca del MIFS y sugiere la necesidad de mejorar la prestacion de los servicios de extension a los distribuidores de insumos agricolas para que puedan comunicar de manera efectiva la informacion sobre tecnologias de MIFS a los agricultores.

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Citations (6)

Technologies for sustainable management of sandy Sahelian soils

Bernard Vanlauwe Job Kihara Boaz Waswa A. Bationo B. Ouattara

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Citations (14)

Evaluating indicators of land degradation in smallholder farming systems of western Kenya

Geoderma (2013)

Boaz Waswa Paul L. G. Vlek Lulseged Tamene Peter Okoth D. S. Mbakaya

Subsoil

Topsoil

Silt

Agricultural land

10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.11.007

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Citations (51)

Soil Organic Matter Status under Different Agroforestry Management Practices in Three Selected Sites in Kenya

Boaz Waswa

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Citations (1)

Fighting Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Multiple Roles of Legumes in Integrated Soil Fertility Management

Springer eBooks (2011)

A. Bationo Boaz Waswa Jeremiah M. Okeyo Fredah Maina Job Kihara

10.1007/978-94-007-1536-3

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Citations (77)

Agroforestry for Land and Water Management in Kenya

D.N. Mugendi Boaz Waswa Monicah Mucheru‐Muna J. N. Mugwe

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Citations (2)

Long-term effects of TSP and Minjingu phosphate rock applications on yield response of maize and soybean in a humid tropical maize–legume cropping system

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (2016)

Isaac Savini Jimmy Kihara S. Koala John Mukalama Boaz Waswa

Crop production in sub-Sahara Africa is constrained by low soil phosphorus (P) content. A study was conducted in western Kenya to explore alternative P inputs and ways of optimizing their effectiveness and profitability. A field experiment established in 2007 studied the effects of Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) and triple superphosphate (TSP) on maize, common beans and soybean yield. MPR and TSP were applied seasonally at a rate of 0, 12.5, 25 and 50 kg P ha−1 either alone or in combination. Application of P, irrespective of amount, resulted in significantly higher grain yield and total biomass for maize, common beans and soybean compared with the 0 P treatment. Applying P at 12.5 kg ha−1 resulted in significantly (ρ ≤ 0.05) lower maize, common beans and soybean grain yields than all the other P rates. On the other hand, application of P at 25 kg ha−1 resulted in similar yields to the higher P application rates. Relative agronomic effectiveness of MPR was similar for both maize and soybeans in most seasons, confirming that MPR has high potential for direct application in these soils. Switching from no application to P applied at 12.5 and also 25 kg P ha−1 attracts a marginal rate of return of at least 200 %. Switching from 25 kg P ha−1 to any of the other options attracted MRR < 200 %. This implies that adoption of either MPR or TSP by farmers in western Kenya is profitable for maize and soybeans production, given that MRRs were above 100 % minimum acceptable rate of return which is a requirement for farmers to change from one technology to another.

Phosphorite

Cropping system

10.1007/s10705-016-9760-7

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Citations (23)

Optimising crop productivity in legume-cereal rotations through nitrogen and phosphorus management in western Kenya

Springer eBooks (2007)

Job Kihara J.M. Kimetu Bernard Vanlauwe A. Bationo Boaz Waswa

Mucuna pruriens

Crop Rotation

10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_46

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Citations (7)

Soil carbon and agricultural productivity: perspectives from sub-Saharan Africa.

CABI eBooks (2014)

A. Bationo Boaz Waswa Job Kihara

Soil carbon plays a key role in maintaining crop productivity in the soils in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is more so considering that most smallholder farmers cannot afford the use of adequate amounts of inorganic fertilizers to restore the proportion of nutrients lost through crop harvests, soil erosion and leaching. Complicating the situation is the huge proportion of land under threat of degradation in the form of soil erosion and nutrient decline. There are numerous opportunities for improving soil carbon as a basis of ensuing sustainable agriculture. This paper discusses the role of soil carbon in agricultural production, with special focus on sub-Saharan Africa. First, the paper presents a discussion on the functions of soil carbon (biological, chemical and physical). This is followed by a look at the causes of carbon variation across agroecosystems. Management of soil carbon and productivity is evaluated in the context of resource availability, quality and soil organic matter pools. Drawing from the integrated soil fertility management practices in Africa, the paper discusses various strategies for organic carbon management and the implication of the same on crop productivity and soil properties. A special focus is given to the lessons learned from long-term experiments across Africa.

Soil carbon

Soil Quality

Soil governance

Agroecosystem

Nutrient Management

Soil Management

10.1079/9781780645322.0132

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Citations (2)