Browsing by Author "Brook, T.R."
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Item Camber Bed Cultivation of Ground-Water (Vlei) Soils I-Experimental Crop Yields(1959) Robinson, J.B.D.; Evans, H.R.; Brook, T.R.; Department of Agriculture, KenyaThe system of raised bed cultivation for clay soils with impeded drainage termed Camber Bed cultivation, has now been under trial at the Coffee Research Station, Ruiru, Kenya, for almost five years. In the previous paper (Robinson et al. 1955) the principles of this cultivation system were described in some detail, together with the method for carrying out the cultivation in the field. At the same time experimental yield data from a 21 factorial nitrogen X phosphorus X cattle manure trial which was cropped with maize (Yellow Durum) in the long rains, 1954, and with beans (White Haricot) in the short rains. 1954, were recorded and discussed in detail.Item Camber Bed Cultivation Of Ground-Water (Vlei) Soils(1959) Evans, H.R.; Robinson, J.B.D.; Brook, T.R.The system of raised bed cultivation for clay soils with impeded drainage termed Camber Bed cultivation, has now been under trial at the Coffee Research Station, Ruiru, Kenya, for almost five years. In the previous paper (Robinson et al. 1955) the principles of this cultivation system were described in some detail, together with the method for carrying out the cultivation in the field. At the same time experimental yield data from a 21 factorial nitrogen X phosphorus X cattle manure trial which was cropped with maize (Yellow Durum) in the long rains. 1954, and with beans (White Haricot) in the short rains,1954, were recorded and discussed in detail.Item Camber Bed Cultivation of Ground-Water (VLEI) Soils: II—Modifications of the System.(1959) Brook, T.R.; Robinson, J.B.D.; Department of Agriculture, KenyaSince the publication of a description of the camber-bed system of cultivation of vlei soils (Robinson et al. 1955), a considerable area of vlei land has been treated in this way, and the experience gained brought out points which required further investigation. Observations during the past two years have shown that the run-off from camber beds can be very high, and it is clear that before the system is put into operation the area should be examined to see if the run-off can be safely discharged into protected drainage ways without risk of damage to roads, culverts, cultivated land etc. In order to test these observations, a six-inch Parshall flume and a recording run-off gauge were installed at the Coffee Research Station, Ruiru, on a camber bed 30 feet wide and 566 feet long, with a fall of 1.15 feet. During the period 5th April to 5th May the rainfall was fairly light, with low intensity, and run-off was so small that it was not recorded, the total rainfall being 9.39 inches in 18 days. From 6th to 16th May, however, 14.84 inches of rain fell in 11 days, sometimes with considerable intensity, and the data in Table I were recorded. From 13th to 16th May, there was a constant flow which was just too low to be recorded, but it was estimated at about 1,500 gallons a day. If this flow is taken into account the percentage run-off is increased to 100 per cent over the greater part of this period. Even discounting this unrecorded flow, it will be seen from the table that the run-off can be as high as 90 per cent.Item A Cultivation System for Groundwater (VLEI) Soils(1956) Robinson, J.B.D.; Brook, T.R.; de Vink, H.H.J.; Department of Agriculture, KenyaNow that many planters producing coffee (Coffee arabica) in climatic areas subject to periods of drought appreciate the value of mulching in terms of both soil improvement and enhanced crop yield [I] [2] [3], the need for more land to increase mulch grass production has become a problem on many estates. In addition to the development of suitable land outside the coffee. It is a recommended field practice to remove old, debilitated and uneconomic coffee now growing on the poorer phases of the Kikuyu red loam soil type, and replace it with Napier grass (Pennisefum purpureum) which is still!! Considered to be the most satisfactory mulching material. These areas occur on the steeper slopes, have been subject to severe losses of top soil by sheet erosion in the past, and must in many cases have been unsuitable for coffee even when this crop was first planted. While the need to grow this mulch grass as a "crop". i.e. with adequate cultivation, manuring. etc. to obtain high yields. is stressed, mulch production areas of this type are frequently inadequate and the effective utilization of the ground-water or Vlei soils which occur on many coffee estates for mulch production would be of great assistance.
