Browsing by Author "Kimani, S. K."
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Item Integrating Scientific and Farmers' Evaluation of Water Harvesting and Soil Fertility Technologies on Sorghum Productivity in Eastern Kenya(2013) Mwangi, D. M.; Muriithi, F.; Kimani, S. K.; Mahasi, M.; Mugwe, J.; Mutea, K.; Miriti, J.; Njeru, P.N.M.; Miruka, M.; Mucheru-Muna, M.; Maina, I.; Amboga, S.; Gitari, J; Lekasi, J. K.Soil fertility degradation remains the major biophysical cause of declining per capita crop production on smallholder farms in Kenya highlands. A study was conducted to compare farmers' perception and biophysical data on selected water harvesting and integrated soil fertility management technologies on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) production in Central highlands of Kenya. The treatments were 3 levels of water harvesting (Tied ridges, contour furrows and conventional tillage) 3 cropping systems (Sole sorghum and Sorghum and cowpea intercrop and 6 levels of soil fertility amendment options (control, 40 Kg P/ha + 40Kg N/ha, 40 Kg P/ha + 20 Kg N/ha, 40 Kg P/ha + 40Kg N/ha + manure 5 t/ha, 40 Kg P/ha + 20 Kg N/ha + manure 2.5 t/ha and manure 5t/ha. One hundred seventeen smallholder farmers were invited to evaluate crops based on their performance and grain yields. Thirty six plots laid out in partially balanced incomplete block design (PBIDD) replicated three times. The results show that treatments that ranked top on the scale of 'good' had external soil amendment regardless of water harvesting and cropping systems. The treatment which was ranked best was farmers practice under sorghum alone plus external soil amendment of 40 kg P/ha + 20 kg N/ha with (69.1 %) respondent with grain yield of (3.5t/ha). This was closely followed by tied ridges and contour furrows rankings ranging from 68.3% to 68.8% respondent under sorghum alone, plus external soil fertility amendment options. Generally, the poorest ranked treatment and low yielding were experiment control. The results further showed that there was no significant difference between treatment scoring by gender (P~.05) on the scale of good, fair and poor. Therefore, integration minimal addition of organic and inorganic inputs on highly valued traditional with adequate rainfall under normal farmers practice in semi-arid lands could be considered as an alternative option contribution to food security in central highland of KenyaItem Managing Manure to Sustain Smallholder Livelihoods in the East African Highlands(2001) Lekasi, J. K.; Tanner, J.C.; Kimani, S. K.; Harris, P. J. C.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute PO Box 57811 Nairobi Kenya; International Livestock Research Institute PO Box 30709 Nairobi Kenya; HDRA Ryton Organic Gardens Coventry CV8 3LG UKOne consequence of decreasing size of land holdings in the Central Kenya Highlands is a shift from extensive to more intensive mixed crop/livestock farmmg systems including acquisition of external inputs to feed livestock and replenish soil nutrients. Inorganic fertilisers are too expensive for most smallholders. The scope of this study was to evaluate manure management options that could best conserve nutrients and improve manure quality. A survey documented current and potential manure management options, and evaluated manure physical characteristics and nutrient concentrations that could be associated with manure quality. Results suggest that modification of traditional livestock housing (homa) to the zero-grazing system may have beneficial effects on some aspects of manure quality. In conclusion, the diet fed to the animals and the type of organic materials added to the manure had an effect on the manure quality as assessed by nutrient content and crop response. Livestock make an important contribution to the sustainability of intensive smallholder farming through their contribution to soil fertility. This research has shown that increases in crop yields on smallholder farms in the Central Kenya Highlands, gained from simple techniques for better care of manure during collection and storage, can be substantial and enduring. It may well be that the contribution this research makes to enhancing the competitiveness of the smallholder sector in Central Kenya is increased where improved manure management can be linked to cultivation of higher value horticultural crops.Item Manure Management Methods to Enhance Nutrient Quantity and Quality on Smallholdings in the Central Kenya Highlands(Kenya Agriculture Research Institute, 2002) Lekasi, J. K.; Tanner, J. C.; Kimani, S. K.; Harris, P. J. C.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi, KenyaSmallholder mixed farming systems of the Central Kenya Highlands rely upon organic inputs, particularly manure, to maintain soil nutrient levels and stabilize crop yields. However, nutrient losses during collection, composting and application of manure can be substantial. The effects of simple methods for combining cattle faeces, urine and rejected maize stover forage on the conservation of nutrients during storage and composting and on maize productivity over two seasons after field application of manure were investigated. The methods were; (1) faeces (F) + urine (U) + feed refusals (FR) mixed in a deep-litter system by a steer (method S), (2) F + U + FR, (3) F + FR, (4) F + U, all collected and mixed manually, and (5) F (faeces only). F + FR effectively conserved the N in the faeces and feed refusals. With S and F + U + FR, after 60 days collection and 84 days composting, the additional N from urine was completely lost and only 5.5–5.6 g N kg−1 steer initial liveweight (LWi) was obtained compared with 6.5 g N kg−1 LWi for F + FR. With F + FR, 4.7 g N kg−1 LW, from urine was also potentially available for direct return to the soil, resulting in a 11.2 g N kg−1 LWi return to the soil. Composted F and F + U manures had lower N concentrations than F + FR. They also had higher C:N ratios than F + FR and F + U + FR, though they did not differ significantly from S. All of the experimental manures, applied at a rate to give 75 kg N ha−1, significantly improved maize grain and stover yield in the first season compared with an unfertilized control. With the experimental manures, the greatest yield (F + FR, 4336 kg ha−1) was significantly higher than the lowest yield (F + U, 2916 kg ha−1). With the best manure collection strategy, F + FR, the manure from one steer (mean liveweight 212 kg) was worth an extra 356 kg of maize grain and 295 kg of stover above the control level from 0.1 ha of land over the two seasons. The best collection method gave up to twice as much additional grain as the worst strategy. Livestock make an important contribution to intensive smallholder farming through their contribution to soil fertility. This research has shown that crop yield increases gained by adopting simple techniques for better care of manure during collection and storage can be substantial and extend over at least two seasons.
