Characterization of soil nutrient levels in smallholder farms in Eastern Kenya
Material type:
ArticleLanguage: English Publication details: Australia : Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, 2011.Subject(s):
In:
Resilient food systems for a changing world : proceedings of the 5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture incorporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference p. 401-402Summary: Declining soil fertility and crop yields are major problems experienced by smallholder farmers in eastern Kenya where maize and legumes are grown in complex and risky farming systems. Even though the natural fertility of the soils is moderate to high, over time soil fertility declined due to inappropriate soil management practices and nutrient depletion. Climate variability and the socio-economic environment add up to the uncertainties farmers face making the use of inorganic fertilisers extremely low due to the high risk of the practice. The region has a highly variable bi-modal annual rainfall that ranges between 800-1400mm accumulated over two well defined rainy seasons. The short rains (SR) run between March and July, and the long rains (LR) between October and January (Jaetzold, R. and Schmidt, H. 1983).
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Declining soil fertility and crop yields are major problems experienced by smallholder farmers in eastern Kenya where maize and legumes are grown in complex and risky farming systems. Even though the natural fertility of the soils is moderate to high, over time soil fertility declined due to inappropriate soil management practices and nutrient depletion. Climate variability and the socio-economic environment add up to the uncertainties farmers face making the use of inorganic fertilisers extremely low due to the high risk of the practice. The region has a highly variable bi-modal annual rainfall that ranges between 800-1400mm accumulated over two well defined rainy seasons. The short rains (SR) run between March and July, and the long rains (LR) between October and January (Jaetzold, R. and Schmidt, H. 1983).
Conservation Agriculture Program
Text in English
INT2340