Browsing by Author "Ekaya, W.N."
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Item Effect of Burning Natural Pasture on Soil Chemical Properties and Dry Matter Production of Introduced Glycine and Siratro Grass Legume Mixed Pastures In Semi-Arid Rangelands of Kenya(2013) Macharia, P.N.; Mureithi, J.G.; Kinyamario, J.I.; Ekaya, W.N.; Gachane, C.K.K.; Thuranira, E.G.Fire is often used as g tool to stimulate new pasture growth that is of higher quality. However, fire has profound effects on the soil's nutrient dynamics and dry matter (DM) production of the pasture. This study was conducted in Kajiado District to study the effect of pasture burning on soil chemical properties and dry matter yield (DM) of introduced Neonotonia weight (Am.) Lackey (Glycine) and Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC) Urb (Siratro) forage legumes. On one site, herbage was subjected to a back fire while herbage in an adjacent site was slashed to ground level. Before planting the legumes, soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth and analyzed for pH (H20), organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca). The results showed that the soil pH in the burned site (5.25) was higher (though not significant at PS:0.05) than in slashed plots (5.06). The soil organic C and N was higher in slashed plots than in burned plots. However, the soil's P, K and Ca levels increased after burning with P achieving a significant increase while the increase in K and Ca was not significant. Specifically, the soil N content was significantly higher in slashed (0.17 %) than in burned plots (0.15 %). The soil P was higher in burned (177.9 ppm) than in unburned plots (166.8 ppm). Potassium levels in burned plots (1.25%) was higher (though not significant) than in slashed plots (1.20 %). Calcium levels were also higher (though not significant) in burned (5.34 %) than in slashed plots (5.12 %). Glycine grown as monocultures yielded more DM in burned site (6.87 tlha) than in slashed plots (4.81 tlha). Monoculture stands of Siratro yielded more DM in slashed plots (2.84 tlha) than in burned plots (2.73 tlha). When the two legumes were grown as mixtures with natural pasture, the pattern was the same as in monocultures.Item The Effect of Introduced Forage Legumes on Improvement of Soil Fertility in Natural Pastures of Semi-Arid Rangelands of Kajiado District, Kenya(2013) Macharia P.N; Gachene, C.C.K ; Mureithi, J.G. ; Kinyamario, J.I. ; Ekaya, W.N. ; Thuranira, E.G; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), University of Nairobi, KARI Headquarters,This study was carried out to investigate the effect of introduced forage legumes on improvement of the quality and quantity of fodder in traditional pasture enclosures of Maasai livestock keepers in semi-arid rangelands of Kajiado District, Kenya. The forage legumes Glycine, Siratro and Shrubby Stylo were integrated into the natural pastures and their effects on natural pasture productivity studied. Data on dry matter (DM) production was collected at two defoliation heights (15 and 30 cm) and three defoliation intervals (2, 4 and 6 months). The highest DM yield was obtained at the two months defoliation interval at 15 cm height (though there were no significant differences between treatments), and inclusion of Glycine and Siratro into natural pastures resulted in combined DM yield of 3.79 and 3.84 tJha, respectively, which was 40 and 42 %, respectively higher than the DM yield of the natural pasture (2.71 tJ ha). Due to slow growth ofStylo as anintercrop, the mixed pasture yielded 2.59 tJha. Stylo as an intercrop needed more than four seasons of growth for it to contribute higher DM yield than the natural pasture. Forage quality determinations at vegetative, flowering and senescent stages showed that grasses in mixed pastures contained higher crude protein (CP) content and had higher digestibility and lower fibre content than grasses in natural pasture at all stages of growth.Item Effect of Introduced Forage Legumes on Productivity of Traditional Pasture Enclosures in Semi-Arid Rangelands of Kenya(2013) Macharia, P.N.; Mureithi, J.G.; Kinyamario, J.I.; Ekaya, W.N.; Gachene, C.K.K.; Thuranira, E.G.This study was carried out to investigate the effect of introduced forage legumes on improvement of the quality and quantity of fodder in traditional pasture enclosures of Maasai livestock keepers in semi-arid rangelands of Kajiado District, Kenya. The forage legumes Glycine, Siratro and Shrubby Stylo were integrated into the natural pastures and their effects on natural pasture productivity studied. Data on dry matter (DM) production was collected at two defoliation heights (15 and 30 cm) and three defoliation intervals (2, 4 and 6 months). The highest DM yield was obtained at the two months defoliation interval at 15 cm height (though there were no significant differences between treatments), and inclusion of Glycine and Siratro into natural pastures resulted in combined DM yield of 3.79 and 3.84 tJha, respectively, which was 40 and 42%, respectively higher than the DM yield of the natural pasture (2.71 tI ha). Due to slow growth of Stylo as an intercrop, the mixed pasture yielded 2.59 tJha. Stylo as an intercrop needed more than four seasons of growth for it to contribute higher DM yield than the natural pasture. Forage quality determinations at vegetative, flowering and senescent stages showed that grasses in mixed pastures contained higher crude protein (CP) content and had higher digestibility and lower fibre content than grasses in natural pasture at all stages of growth.Item Effect of Introduced Forage Legumes on Productivity of Traditional Pasture Enclosures in Semi-Arid Rangelands of Kenya(2013) Macharia, P.N.; Mureithi, J.G.; Kinyamario, J.I.; Ekaya, W.N.; Gachene, C.K.K.; Thuranira, E.G.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, , P.O. Box 14733-00800, Nairobi, KenyaThis study was carried out to investigate the effect of introduced forage legumes on improvement of the quality and quantity of fodder in traditional pasture enclosures of Maasai livestock keepers in semi-arid rangelands of Kajiado District, Kenya. The forage legumes Glycine, Siratro and Shrubby Stylo were integrated into the natural pastures and their effects on natural pasture productivity studied. Data on dry matter (DM) production was collected at two defoliations Heights (15 and 30 cm) and three defoliation intervals (2,4 and 6 months). The highest DM yield was obtained at the two months defoliation interval at 15 cm height (though there were no significant differences between treatments), and inclusion of Glycine and Siratro into natural pastures resulted in combined DM yield of3.79 and 3.84 tlha, respectively, which was 40 and 42%, respectively higher than the DM yield of the natural pasture (2.71 tJ ha). Due to slow growth of Stylo as an intercrop, the mixed pasture yielded 2.59 tlha. Stylo asan intercrop needed more than four seasons of growth for it to contribute higher DM yield than the natural pasture. Forage quality determinations at vegetative, flowering and senescent stages showed that grasses in mixed pastures contained higher crude protein (CP) content and had higher digestibility and lower fibre content than grasses in natural pasture at all stages of growth.
