Browsing by Author "de Jager, A."
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Item Assessment and Monitoring Nutrient Flows and Stocks to Determine Appropriate Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies: Technical report on the study approach and preliminary results of NUTSAL project, 1998/99.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2000) Gachimbi, L. N.; Ikombo, B. M.; Itabari, J. K.; Nandwa, S. M.; Nguluu, S.M.; Kinama, J. M.; Thuranira, E. G.; Karuku, A. Μ.; de Jager, A.; Keulen, H. V.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteThe National Soil Plant Nutritional (NSFPN) Research Programme has the mandate to contribute towards increased agricultural production in the high, medium and low rainfall areas in Kenya. This constitutes 44.6 million hectares of land of which only about 8.6 million ha is high to medium potential. The rest is either semi-arid or arid. The programme aims at increased crop production through integrated nutrient management approached under different cropping systems and appropriate tillage practices. Improved production of crops and livestock in a sustainable manner is a key to agricultural development in arid and semi-arid lands.Item Assessment and Monitoring of Nutrient Flows and Stocks to Determine Appropriate Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies: Methodological Approach Adapted for Arid and Semi-arid Lands of Kenya, 2000(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2000) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Gachimbi, L.N.; Ikombo, B.M.; Itabari, J.K.; Nguluu, S.M.; Thuranira E.G.; de Jager, A.; Kulen, H.V.; Kenya Agricultural Research InstituteKenya's arable land comprises 44.6 million hectares, of which about 33.6 million ha is either semi- arid or arid (ASAL). The aim of agricultural development in the country is to increase agricultural production in a sustainable manner, through integrated crop management approaches under different cropping systems and appropriate tillage practices. Integrated crop management. in this context, refers to the application of the best available management techniques for nutrients, water and crop protection. The rapid increase in Kenya's population has resulted in three distinct phenomena. Firstly, there is the rapid rural-urban migration in search of better job opportunities. Secondly, there is out migration from the high and medium rainfall areas in search of new farmlands in the ASALs. Introduction of crop production technologies from high potential areas has proven sometimes disastrous if not accompanied by various soil nutrient adding/saving or water conservation approaches. Appropriate technology is thus lacking. Thirdly, tremendously increased pressure on land has necessitated intensification of land use, resulting in land degradation. Substantial parts of ASAL, are located in Machakos. Mwingi. Makuena. Kitui and Kajiado districts.Item Exploring Potentials of Rhizobium Inoculation in Enhancing Agro-economic Performance of Cowpeas in Mbeere District, Eastern Kenya(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, 2005) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute; Onduru, D. D.; Muchena, F. N.; Gachimbi, L.; Gachini, G. N.; de Jager, A.Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to crop production in most parts of Mbeere District. According to Sanchez and Palm (1996) soil fertility depletion in smallholder farms is the fundamental biophysical root cause of declining per capita food production in the region, and its replenishment should be considered as an investment in natural resource capital. The declining soil fertility in smallholder farms has been attributed to continuous cropping, removal of field crop residues, overgrazing between cropping seasons with little or no use of external inputs and soil erosion (Smaling et al., 1992; Sanchez et al., 1997). Although inorganic fertilizers have been recommended as a means of improving soil fertility, these fertilizers have often been perceived by farmers as expensive. According to studies conducted By Heisey and Mwangi (1996) and Bashir et al. (1997), transport costs for agrochemicals make the use of inorganic fertilizers on staple food crops uneconomical for most smallholder farmers.
