Knowledge Center Catalog

The use of organic/inorganic soil amendments for enhanced maize production in the central highlands of Kenya

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Nairobi (Kenya) KARI|CIMMYT : 2002Description: p. 367-371ISBN:
  • 970-648-120-6
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 338.16 FRI
Summary: A study was conducted for four cropping seasons commencing March 1999 to determine the level of complementarity between organic and inorganic soil amendments that can be used to alleviate soil infertility for maize production. The sites of the study were at Kianjuki and Kivwe locations of Embu district in the central highlands of Kenya. The treatments consisted of organic, inorganic or combined organic/inorganic soil amendments. Soils at both sites are ando-humic Nitisols with a moderately acidic (pH = 5.3) reaction and low to medium levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Results of maize grain yield indicated that the use of combined organic/inorganic soil amendments appear to be superior to using either an inorganic or organic soil amendment source alone. Highest grain yields of 6.9 and 5.4 t ha-1 for Kivwe and Kianjuki, respectively, were obtained where combined cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer was applied during the 1999 cropping seasons. These yields were 2.0 and 1.5 times more than those obtained in the unfertilized check at Kivwe and Kianjuki sites, respectively. During the participatory farmers' evaluation of the treatments, combined organic/inorganic soil amendments were ranked higher than straight treatments of either cattle manure or a compound fertilizer.
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A study was conducted for four cropping seasons commencing March 1999 to determine the level of complementarity between organic and inorganic soil amendments that can be used to alleviate soil infertility for maize production. The sites of the study were at Kianjuki and Kivwe locations of Embu district in the central highlands of Kenya. The treatments consisted of organic, inorganic or combined organic/inorganic soil amendments. Soils at both sites are ando-humic Nitisols with a moderately acidic (pH = 5.3) reaction and low to medium levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Results of maize grain yield indicated that the use of combined organic/inorganic soil amendments appear to be superior to using either an inorganic or organic soil amendment source alone. Highest grain yields of 6.9 and 5.4 t ha-1 for Kivwe and Kianjuki, respectively, were obtained where combined cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer was applied during the 1999 cropping seasons. These yields were 2.0 and 1.5 times more than those obtained in the unfertilized check at Kivwe and Kianjuki sites, respectively. During the participatory farmers' evaluation of the treatments, combined organic/inorganic soil amendments were ranked higher than straight treatments of either cattle manure or a compound fertilizer.

Global Maize Program

English

0410|AGRIS 0401|AL-Maize Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CFDE01

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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