Browsing by Author "Micheni, A."
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Item Food Crops Research Institute Annual Report 2022-2023(KALRO - Food Crops Research Institute., 2023) Wanyama, J.M.; Ndungu-Mageroi.; Micheni, A.; Macharia, G.; Njugina, E.; Lelgut, D.; Nyasani, D.; Mudavadi, P.; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research OrganizationFCRI is mandated to develop and promote staple food crops technologies in 47 counties of Kenya. The Institute has the national mandate for strategic research for pasture and fodder improvement and has developed the most popular pastures and fodders in Kenya such Napier grass, Rhodes grass, Nandi Setaria and Desmodium. Most other popular grasses in the tropics have their origins in Kitale. The maize programme develops maize varieties for medium and highland agro-ecological zones of Kenya. H614D is the most popular of the maize varieties developed in KALRO Kitale, contributing significantly to food security in the country. The regional mandate covers five counties (Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot, Nandi and Keiyo-Marakwet) covering a total of 19 counties of diverse agro-ecology. The major agro- ecological zones (AEZs) in the mandate area include lower highlands (LH1 to LH3), upper midlands (UM4, UM4-5), and lower midlands (LM1 to LM5). The AEZs of LH3, LM5, UM4 and UM4-5 make up 76% of the agricultural land in the mandate region. The regional mandate area covers 1.8 million hectares, out of which 1.3 million hectares is agricultural land. The region has a population of over three million (current estimates). The Institute follows farming system approach to research, extension and training along the important product value chains in the region. This is an inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional approach which involves all relevant stakeholders and embraces participatory problem identification, research prioritization, planning, implementation and dissemination of improved technologies, innovations and better management practices along the product value chains. The regional programmes encompass adaptive research for all agricultural enterprises as prioritized by the regional agricultural stakeholders including priority setting and agricultural product value chain (APVC) situational analysis. The specific activities include; the varietal evaluation, agronomic management, protection and socio-economics of food crops, pasture and fodder, horticultural and industrial crops, livestock, natural resource management and value addition. The Institute’s research objective is to contribute to the realization of KALRO mission, particularly focusing on food security, poverty reduction, environmental conservation with the whole value chain perspective to technology development and delivery. The Institute recognizes the value of all stakeholders in agriculture and has strong linkage with ministries in Agricultural sector, non-government organization (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), farmer groups, provincial administration, seed companies, local, regional and international research institutions and donor agencies. The mechanisms ensuring outreach and partnerships with collaborators and clients include field days, agricultural society of Kenya shows, adaptive research, research-extension workshops, research output publications, farmer bulletins and leaflets, mass media documentaries, Stakeholder/innovation platform meetings where proposals, progress reports are presented by Institute scientists and feedback received from other stakeholders.Item Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems Under Conservation Agriculture In Eastern Kenya(2013) Kanampiu, F.; Micheni, A.; Kitonyo, O.The effects of conservation agriculture (CA) practices in maize-legume cropping systems were investigated in the eastern region of Kenya during the 20 I 0 short rains (November-December) season. Two beneficiary communities in two agro-ecological zones were therefore identified to host the 21 on-farm exploratory trials. Two best-bet CA treatments and conventional tillage practices were tested through on-farm trials against farmers' and conventional practices. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design where each experimental farm served as a replicate. The results showed that conventionally tilled plots gave high (PSO.05) maize grain yield ranging between 0.23 - 2.67 t/ha compared with other tillage practices. The farmers' practice gave the least yield that ranged between 0.13 - 2.43 tlha between farms and sites. However, bean yields were higher under furrows and ridges than other treatments. Full CA benefits usually accrue with time and therefore, long term experimental data should be collected and compared over time to provide conclusive results.Item Interactive Effects of Tillage Methods and Inorganic Nutrients on Maize and Beans Performance in Embu County, Kenya(AgEcon Search, 2023-02-27) Ogega, S.; Mugwe, J.; Micheni, A.; Kenyatta University ; Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization - EmbuThe decrease in maize and bean production is a major concern in the food security of the majority of small household farmers in Embu County, Kenya. A farm profile study conducted in the region revealed that the yields of the two crops are low at 1.2 and 0.5 tons/ha against the expected 6.0 and 2.3 tons/ha per season for maize and bean, respectively. The low production is attributed to reliance on conventional farming methods and application of fertilizers majorly NPK based without attention to essential nutrients like Mg, Ca, Zn, B and S despite their demonstrated benefits. Conservation agriculture is an alternative for halting the effects of conventional tillage and leads to an increase in yields and sustaining soil fertility. The purpose of this study was to determine the interactive effect of minimum tillage and conventional tillage and inorganic nutrients on maize and bean crop performance. An on-station trial was conducted for two seasons in one of the research stations at Kenya Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) located in Embu County. The trial was laid in a randomized complete block design with asplit-plot arrangement. Minimum tillage and conventional tillage made up the main plots. Each of the main plots were divided into five sub-plots that were applied with five different inorganic fertilizers that include, NK, NP, KP, NPK and MM. Maize and bean performance data collected included days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, days to tasseling, plant height, number of leaves, cobs, biomass and grain weights. The results of maize crops showed a significant interaction between conservation tillage and a combination of MM which recorded 4.18 tons/ha while the interaction of convention tillage and MM recorded 3.58 tons/ha. The results of bean crops showed a significant interaction between conservation tillage and a combination of MM which recorded 1.98 tons/ha while the interaction of convention tillage and MM recorded 1.78 tons/ha. The increased yields can be explained by the mulch in conservation tillage which ensured moisture availability by reducing evaporation, especially on the dry season during the growth cycle of the maize and bean plant. In addition, the presence of macro and micro-nutrients which are key for the growth of the maize and bean accelerated its growth and development. The study, therefore, recommends the use of a combination of MM in conservation tillage.
