Browsing by Author "Muga, M."
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Item KARI-NARL-KSS - Soils of North Horr, their management problems and solutions for improved crops, gums and resins production.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2008) Muya, E.M ; Lelon, J.K.; Muga, M.; Maingi, P.M.; Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteKenya is an agricultural country, depending almost entirely on land productivity for subsistence and socio-economic development. However, about two-thirds of the country is semi-arid to arid (ASAL). The land cover in the ASAls is generally poor with high degree of land degradation, caused mainly by limited organic inputs required to facilitate the biological processes and ecosystem functions that sustain land productivity. In addition, there is, generally, limited ecosystem capacity to intercept, store and redistribute the rainwater for agricultural production. In the face of rapid population growth and these constraints, it is going to be extremely difficult to maintain sufficiency in foodstuffs in the future. Therefore, an alternative means of survival is required, not only to improve agricultural production, but also to reverse the declining trends in soil productivity, caused by land degradation. Therefore, the main objective of Acacia Operation Project is to rehabilitate the degraded land and enhance its productivity for crops, gums and resins. This is will be achieved by mechanized water harvesting technologies called Delfino and Treno ploughs. The research areas include Sereolipi, Merille, Laisamis, Loglogo and North Horr indicated in location map.Item Water Harvesting Furrows Options for Maize Production in the Southern Rangelands of Semi-Arid Kenya(2013) Gitunguri, C.M.; Esilaba, A.O. ; Muga, M.; Wekesa, L.; Muchiri, D.; Ngethe, R.; KARI- KatumaniThe Southern Rangelands of Kenya's drylands are prone to unreliable and insufficient rainfall making crop production risky and food insecurity and poverty rampant. The drylands are characterized with low and erratic rainfall and high transpiration rates. In order to improve crop and tree production in these areas, sustainable drought mitigation farming methods, through better on-farm rainwater management are required. A study was conducted to determine the effect of using mechanized furrows made using the Vallerani technology, vis-a-vis the traditional furrows made using the oxen plough to harvest rainwater, on the yield of maize in Kibwezi and Kiboko Divisions in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya. Other common water harvesting methods include creation of surface and earth dams, roof catchment, trapping road runoff and directing the water into the farm, and digging of tied trenches. The Vallerani technology involved use of a tractor with a calibrated Delphino plough to make tied ridges and furrows during seedbed preparation before planting. Elev,en farmers were selected from Mtito Andei and Kibwezi Divisions. Maize was planted in 5 m x 3 m plots with a total of 66 plants and a sample of 24 plants harvested. Mechanized furrows gave higher (P<0.05) maize grain yields (2073 kg/ha) than those under oxen furrows (1322 kg/ha). The Pioneer maize variety gave higher (P<0.05) maize grain yields (1961 kg/ha) than the local variety (1506 kg/ha) and as such should b recommended for the area. The 3 m (furrow to furrow) by 0.15 m (plant to plant) gave higher (P<0.05) maize grain yields (2072 kg/ha) than the 1.5 m (furrow to furrow) by 0.30 m (plant to plant) spacing. The use of the calibrated Delphino plough in making tied ridges and furrows during seedbed preparation before planting should be encouraged in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya.Item Water Harvesting Furrows Options for Maize Production in the Southern Rangelands of Semi-Arid Kenya(2013) Githunguri, C.M.; Esilaba, A.O.; Muga, M.; Wekesa, L.; Mutunga, C.; Muchiri, D.; Ng'ethe, R.; KARI- Katumani, P.O Box 340, MachakosThe Southern Rangelands of Kenya's drylands are prone to unreliable and insufficient rainfall making crop production risky and food insecurity and poverty rampant. The drylands are characterized with low and erratic rainfall and high transpiration rates. In order to improve crop and tree production in these areas, sustainable drought mitigation farming methods, through better on-farm rainwater management are required. A study was conducted to determine the effect of using mechanized furrows made using the Vallerani technology, vis-a-vis the traditional furrows made using the oxen plough to harvest rainwater, on the yield of maize in Kibwezi and Kiboko Divisions in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya. Other common water harvesting methods include creation of surface and earth dams, roof catchment, trapping road runoff and directing the water into the farm, and digging oftied trenches. The Vallerani technology involved use of a tractor with a calibrated Delphino plough to make tied ridges and furrows during seedbed preparation before planting. Eleven farmers were selected from Mtito Andei and Kibwezi Divisions. Maize was planted in 5 m x 3 m plots with a total of 66 plants and a sample of 24 plants harvested.
