Technical reports
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Browsing Technical reports by Author "De Jager, A."
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Item Farmer Field Schools and Integrated Nutrient Management in Semi-Arid Areas of Eastern Kenya: Learning Experiences on Testing of Farmyard Manure, DAP, Tithonia and Their Combinations in the Central Learning Plot, 2003(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2003) Onduru, D.D.; Gachimbi, L.; Muchena, F.N.; De Jager, A.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteDeterminants of crop productivity growth include soil fertility, pests and diseases, weeds and water availability. In the semi-arid areas of Eastern Kenya, the biophysical challenges such as inherent infertile soils, declining soil fertility, and poor rainfall distribution together with farmer's poor socio-economic situation are some of the major factors contributing to declining food production (Onduru et al., 1999). Soils in the semiarid areas generally have low organic matter and total nitrogen contents because of low biomass production and a high rate of decomposition (Mokwunye et al., 1996). Also in many places of the semi-arid areas, nitrogen and phosphorus are limiting. The soils also have low-activity clay, and thus low capacity to fix added phosphorus. This implies that the phosphorus requirement for obtaining maximum yields is often low (Bationo and Mokwunyu, 1991; Osiname, 1979).Item Integrated nutrient management to attain sustainable productivity increase in East African farming system: Smallholder Farming and Rural Livelihoods in Ngaita Village, Kiambaa Division Kiambu District Kenya: A Baseline Survey Report(Ministry Of Agriculture, 2004) Gachimbi, L.N.; Gachini, G.N.; Onduru, D.D.; Maina, F.; Muchena, F.N.; De Jager, A.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteAgricultural production among the smallholder farmers of Kiambu District, Centre Kenya Highlands is increasingly being threatened by declining soil fertility. Population growth, increasing land scarcity and inappropriate land use practices are seen as the main factors explaining why soils are coming under pressure in many parts~ of sub-saharan Africa (Scoones and Toulmil1, 1999). Evidence Of field studies in the highlands of Kenya! has shown that soil fertility is declining and at the dimension of the problem varies with biophysical, socio-economic and institutional factors Addressing this seemingly bleak scenario Calls for adoption of of all encompassing strategy of managing the widest variety of possible sources of fertility in the most efficient Way as well developing practical technologies applicable to farmers.
