Browsing by Author "Kiboi, M."
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Item Data on the Response of Zea Mays L. and Soil Moisture Content to Tillage and Soil Amendments in the Sub-Humid Tropics(Elsevier Inc., 2022-06-10) Kiboi, M.; Fliessbach, A.; Muriuki, A.; Ngetich, F.; Cortile Scientific Limited ; KCA University ; Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization ; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)The datasets presented were collected from Chuka and Kandara on-station trials sites in Kenya, conducted for two consecutive years. The main aim of the data collection was to evaluate the soil amendments and tillage influence on Zea Mays L. (maize) crop performance and soil moisture content, as reported by Kiboi et al. [1]. Rainfall data were collected using a manual rain gauge installed within the trial site. A non-destructive sampling of four maize plants next to each other on the centre row in each plot was conducted at the 6th and 10th leaf phase to determine crop growth dynamics. Maize grain and stover were harvested at maturity from net plots of 21 m2 in Chuka and 15 m2 in Kandara. The net plot was derived by excluding the first, the last (guard) rows, and the first and last maize plants in each plot. The net plot approach aimed to minimize the edge effect. For soil moisture content determination, a Polyvinyl Chloride access tube was installed at the centre of each plot. Crop phenology was observed and recorded at 50 and 100% stages per treatment. The datasets presented are supplementary materials to the research article by Kiboi et al. [1]. For statistical analysis, the data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The datasets under consideration include daily rainfall, relative chlorophyll content- SPAD values and plant heights, grain yields and stover yields, and periodic soil moisture content.Item Does the Adoption of Minimum Tillage Improve Sorghum Yield Among Smallholders in Kenya? A Counterfactual Analysis(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Musafiri, C.M.; Kiboi, M.; Macharia, J.; Ng'etich, O.K.; Okoti, M.; Mulianga, B.; Kosgei, D.K.; Ngetich, F.K.; University of Embu ; Cortile Scientific Limited ; KCA University ; Kenyatta University ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) ; , Moi University ; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and TechnologyClimate change is a major drawback to food security in most developing countries. Promoting minimum tillage and climate-smart crops is essential in mitigating and adapting to climate shocks. However, information on the impacts of minimum tillage on crop productivity under farmers' conditions is limited in Western Kenya. We assessed the effects of minimum tillage adoption on sorghum productivity among smallholder sorghum farmers in Western Kenya. We used household survey data collected from 300 smallholder farmers and performed an endogenous switching regression model to analyze the effects of minimum tillage adoption on sorghum yields. The results revealed that the adoption of minimum tillage increased sorghum yields by 11%, from 1163 to 1146 kg ha−1. The occupation of the household head, acreage, soil fertility perception, and farm credit significantly and positively determined minimum tillage adoption. The remittance, agricultural associations, weather information, and site negatively and significantly determined minimum tillage adoption. Our findings suggest that minimum tillage adoption under drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum could improve community wellbeing through increased crop productivity, notwithstanding the changing climate and associated weather shocks.Item Smallholders’ Adaptation to Climate Change in Western Kenya: Considering Socioeconomic, Institutional, and Biophysical Determinants(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Musafiri, C.M.; Kiboi, M.; Macharia, J.; Ng’etich, O.K.; Kosgei, D.K.; Mulianga, B.; Okoti, M.; Ngetich, F.K.; University of Embu ; Cortile Scientific Company Ltd ; Kenyatta University ; Moi University ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) ;Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST); University of Embu; Cortile Scientific Company Ltd; Kenyatta University; Moi University; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO); Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)Climate change has stimulated detrimental threats to the global agricultural ecosystems. The study investigated i) the climate change perceptions, drivers, effects, and barriers, and ii) determinants of climate change adaptation among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. The study interviewed 300 households using a semi-structured face-to-face interview schedule. The study employed two indices, i.e., weighted average and problem confrontation, and two regression models, i.e., Binary logistic and Poisson regression. The findings indicated that smallholder farmers were aware of climate change, its drivers, and its effects. The main barriers to climate change adaptation were unpredictable weather patterns, financial constraints, and limited agricultural training. Group membership and site negatively influenced climate change adaptation. Household head's education, experience, remittance receipt, access to credit on inputs, climate change perception, access to weather information, and cultivated farm size positively influenced climate change adaptation. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring smallholder farmers' dynamics in climate change policies to enhance adaptation. The negative prediction of group membership needs to be emphasized to prevent demotivating farmers from joining community associations. The study highlights the need to incorporate farmers' perceptions of climate change, climate awareness creation, and monetary assistance to enhance climate change resilience among smallholder farmers.Item Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Different Land Utilization Types in Western Kenya(Frontiers, 2022-11-30) Kibet, E.; Musafiri, C.M.; Kiboi, M.; Macharia, J.; Ng’etich, O.K.; Kosgei, D.K.; Mulianga, B.; Okoti, M.; Zeila, A.; Ngetich, F.K.; University of Embu ; Cortile Scientific Limited ; Kenyatta University ; Moi University ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization ; The World Bank ; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and TechnologyIntroduction. There is a vast data gap for the national and regional greenhouse gas (GHG) budget from different smallholder land utilization types in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at large. Quantifying soil GHG, i.e., methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from smallholder land utilization types, is essential in filling the data gap. Methods. We quantified soil GHG emissions from different land utilization types in Western Kenya. We conducted a 26-soil GHG sampling campaign from the different land utilization types. The five land utilization types include 1) agroforestry M (agroforestry Markhamia lutea and sorghum), 2) sole sorghum (sorghum monocrop), 3) agroforestry L (Sorghum and Leucaena leucocephala), 4) sole maize (maize monocrop), and 5) grazing land. Results and discussion. The soil GHG fluxes varied across the land utilization types for all three GHGs (p ≤ 0.0001). We observed the lowest CH4 uptake under grazing land (−0.35 kg CH4–C ha−1) and the highest under sole maize (−1.05 kg CH4–C ha−1). We recorded the lowest soil CO2 emissions under sole maize at 6,509.86 kg CO2–Cha−1 and the highest under grazing land at 14,400.75 kg CO2–Cha−1. The results showed the lowest soil N2O fluxes under grazing land at 0.69 kg N2O–N ha−1 and the highest under agroforestry L at 2.48 kg N2O–N ha−1. The main drivers of soil GHG fluxes were soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, soil moisture, clay content, and root production. The yield-scale N2O fluxes ranged from 0.35 g N2O–N kg−1 under sole maize to 4.90 g N2O–N kg−1 grain yields under agroforestry L. Nevertheless, our findings on the influence of land utilization types on soil GHG fluxes and yield-scaled N2O emissions are within previous studies in SSA, including Kenya, thus fundamental in filling the national and regional data of emissions budget. The findings are pivotal to policymakers in developing low-carbon development across land utilization types for smallholders farming systems.Item Use of Inorganic Fertilizer on Climate-Smart Crops Improves Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihoods: Evidence from Western Kenya.(Elsevier Ltd., 2023) Musafiri, C.M.; Kiboi, M.; Macharia, J.; Ng’etich, O.K.; Okoti, M.; Mulianga, M.; Kosgei, D.K.; Zeila, A.; Ngetich, F.K.; Cortile Scientific ; , KCA University ; Kenyatta University ; , University of Embu ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) ; Moi University ; The World Bank ; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)The main challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are soil fertility decline and climate change, culminating in increased food insecurity. The double effect of climate change and soil fertility decline could be devastating among the poor rural smallholder farmers, who solely depend on rain-fed agriculture with little investment in adaptive mechanisms. Using inorganic fertilizers and careful selection of climate-resilient crops such as sorghum could improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers through improved soil health and crop yields. However, information on the effects of inorganic fertilizer on sorghum production remains uncertain, especially in SSA. We evaluated the effects of inorganic fertilizers on sorghum yields among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya. We conducted a cross-sectional survey and collected data from 300 smallholder sorghum farmers. We employed a multi-stage sampling procedure to collect data from the specific smallholder farmers from the target population. We employed endogenous switching regression (ESR) modeling to control observed and unobserved bias in predicting the effects of inorganic fertilizer use on productivity. Smallholder farmers applied a limited amount of inorganic fertilizer. We established that hired labor, agricultural training, and farmers' perception of soil erosion were significant positive determinants of inorganic fertilizer use. Location and access to weather forecast information were key negative determinants of inorganic fertilizer use. The use of inorganic fertilizer increased crop yields by 14%. The findings suggested that inorganic amendments could promote food security and improve purchasing power, thus enhancing smallholder farmers' capacity to cope with declining soil fertility and climate change-related challenges. Therefore, agricultural policies targeting improved productivity of smallholder sorghum farmers could enhance inorganic fertilizer use while considering the determinants.
