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Browsing Proceedings by Author "Amadalo, B."
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Item The Effect of Cutting Management on the Fodder Yields of a Mixed Crop Of Calliandra and Napier Grass(1996) Mengich, E.K.; Otieno, H.J.O.; Heineman, A.M.; Amadalo, B.; Ballard, T.M.A field experiment was established to study the effect of cutting management on the fodder yields of a mixed crop of calliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus) and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). Seven treatments were laid out as hedgerows in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Dry matter (DM) yields of calliandra increased significantly. Most nutrients were not affected by this management except calcium and magnesium which declined. Dry matter yields of Napier grass declined with increasing cutting height of calliandra in the mixture. No significant differences in nutrient content were observed.Item Maize Yield Response to Green Manure Application from Selected Shrubs and Tree Species in Western Kenya: A Preliminary Assessment(1996) Niang, A.; Amadalo, B.; Gathumbi, S.; Obonyo, C.Three field experiments were carried out to test the response of maize grain yield to the application of green manure from five species of shrubs and one tree species in four sites in Western Kenya. The species tested were Senna (=Cassia) spectabilis, Lantana camara, Tithonia diversifolia, Calliandra calothrysus, Psidium guajava (guava) and Grevillea robusta. At two of the experimental sites, groups of farmers tested the response of maize to the application of green manure from tithonia and lantana under their own field conditions and management the rate of green manure application ranged from 5 to 20 t/ha on dry matter basis The control plot that was adopted in this experiment was a continuously cropped plot which did not receive green manure. Tithonia and lantana green manure gave the highest maize grain yields (4-5 t/ha) when applied at the rate of 5 t/ha but there were no yield differences between treatments with the two species' when the rate of application of green manure was increased to 10 and 20 t/ha. The residual effect from tithonia and lantana green manure was more pronounced than from treatments with phosphoric fertilisers Farmers realised comparatively higher maize grain yields from the application of tithonia green manure than from lantana although most them did not apply the prescribed quantities of the green manure. Tithonia was the more preferred manure spices by farmers.Item The Potential of Short Duration Improved Fallow for Crop Productivity Enhancement in the Highlands of Western Kenya(1996) Ntang, A.; Gathumbi, S.; Amadalo, B.The potential of short-duration improved fallow (6-12 months) with MPTs for crop production in the highlands of Western Kenya was investigated through a series of experiments comprising species screening, establishment methods and determination of optimum planting densities. In the first experiment, 12 multipurpose trees and shrubs were compared. The highest biomass productivity and nutrient yields (nitrogen and phosphorus) after one season's (6 months) growth were obtained from Crotalaria grahamiana (300 kg Nand 27 kg P/ha), Crata/aria mucronata (252 kg Nand 16 kg P/ha) and Crotalaria striata (219 kg Nand 16 kg P/ha). In the second experiment, six herbaceous legumes were tested. The most productive species in terms of nutrient yields were Calopogonium mucunoides, Desmodium uncinatum, Macroptillltm afropurpureum and Glycine wightii (more than 150 kg of N and 19 kg of P/ha after 6 months) in a third experiment an improved fallow system was tested with four species and two methods of plantmg over two seasons (12 months). The fastest growth was obtained with T vogelil and T dlversifolia which produced 100 kg of N each at 6 months. Seshania seshan was more productive at 12 months (161 kg/ha) compared with 6 months (60 - 73 kg/ha). In terms of nutrient yields, direct seeded plants of T vogelii were as productive as transplanted seedlings. For S. seshan, the fastest growth was obtained by seedlings. but at 12 months the productivity of S. seshan from seedlings and that from direct seeding was similar The highest maize grain yield following 12 months of fallow was obtained with S. seshan (3840 - 5089 kg/ha) and T vogelii (4162 - 4849 kg/ha) compared to natural fallow (1968 kg/ha) which was not significantly different from continuous cropping (1854 kg/ha). In a fourth trial, seven densities (from 10,000 to 160,000 plants/ha) were tested. In terms of biomass and nutrient yields 2 months after planting the performance of the different densities were Similar. Maize grain yields following 12 months of fallow were also similar and were not different from those obtained from continuous cropping and natural fallow treatments without inorganic P application. The difference in maize grain yield between improved fallow \\ith sesbania (2875 to 3343 kg/ha) couch grass-infested natural fallow (1277 kg/ha) and continuous cropping (12017 kg/ha) were significant (P≤O. 05) when inorganic P was applied
