Browsing by Author "Mugendi, Daniel N."
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Publication Quantifying Effects of Selected Soil Fertility Management Techniques on Water Use Efficiency in the Central Highlands of Kenya(International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 2019-10-04) Etemesi, Beryl; Ngetich, Felix K.; Kiboi, Milka N.; Zeila, Abdi; Adamtey, Noah; Mugendi, Daniel N.Declining rainfall distribution and variability lead to low soil moisture amounts and high evapotranspiration rates reducing water use efficiency that negatively affects crop productivity. Various soil fertility management techniques have been put in place to improve soil fertility status, but there is little attempt to asses their effects on water use efficiency and grain yields. The overall objective of the study was to quantify the effects of soil fertility management techniques on water use efficiency in the Central Highlands of Kenya. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with fourteen treatments replicated four times. Treatments were sole mineral fertilizer (Rf), crop residues + mineral fertilizer (RMf), crop residues + mineral fertilizer + animal manure (RMfM), crop residue + Tithonia diversifolia + animal manure (RTiM), crop residue + Tithonia diversifolia + rock phosphate (RTiP). Data on yield and water use efficiency was analysed using statistical analysis systems software version 9.2 at P=0.05. We observed significant (P<.0001) effect of the treatment on biomass water use efficiency during the short rains 2017, however, there was no significant effect of the treatments on grain water use efficiency because of the frequent dry spells that occurred during the study period. Soil fertility management techniques had a significant effect on grain yield at P<.0001 during the study period. Yields increased significantly (P<0001) under Rf, RMf, RMfM RTiM and RTiP by 90, 110, 120, and 176%, respectively. Water use efficiency also increased significantly under Rf, RMf, RMfM RTiM and RTiP by 200, 140, 180, 129, and 176%, respectively compared to the control. From the study, the combination of organic inputs and mineral fertilisers enhanced water use efficiency and yield hence provides a preferred practise for improved water use efficiency and yield increase.Publication Soil fertility inputs and tillage influence on maize crop performance and soil water content in the Central Highlands of Kenya(Elsevier, 2019-03-05) Kiboi, Milka N.; Ngetich, F. K.; Fliessbach, A.; Muriuki, A.; Mugendi, Daniel N.Rigorous land ploughing and cropping fertiliser treatment and mineral fertiliser combined with animal manure treatment) consistently enhanced maize crop growth and development as observed through enhanced chlorophyll content, plant height and yields. Application of soil fertility inputs significantly improved grain and stover yields except in the crop residue combined with animal manure and legume intercrop treatment (perhaps due to nutrients’ competition since Lablab has an intensive rooting system). Sole organic inputs enhanced soil moisture content in both sites. Emerging from the study, however, is the lack of advantage of minimum tillage over the conventional tillage, within the period under consideration. Thus, this study highlights the possibility of improving soil water holding capacity through application of organic inputs such as crop residues, Tithonia diversifolia and manure, either singly or in combination. It further underpins the uniqueness of an integrated approach to soil fertility and low soil moisture content in the tropical sub-humid regions experiencing erratic rainfallivity in the Central Highlands of Kenya due to low and declining soil fertility, inappropriate tillage methods, soil water scarcity and prolonged dry-spells. In this study, we assessed the effects of two tillage systems and soil fertility inputs on maize crop performance and soil water content. The research was carried out in Chuka and Kandara sites in the Central Highlands of Kenya for four seasons; long rains 2016, short rains 2016, long rains 2017 and short rains 2017. The experimental design was a split plot with tillage method (minimum and conventional) as the main treatments and soil fertility inputs as the sub-treatments: Sole mineral fertiliser, mineral fertiliser combined with crop residue, mineral fertiliser combined with animal manure, Tithonia diversifolia combined with phosphate rock (Minjingu), animal manure intercropped with Dolichos Lablab L. and a Control (conventional tillage with no inputs). Except for the control, and sole mineral fertiliser, crop residue was applied as mulch in all treatments. Based on the results, the treatments with mineral fertiliser (sole mineral fertiliser combined with mineral fertiliser treatment and mineral fertiliser combined with animal manure treatment) consistently enhanced maize crop growth and development as observed through enhanced chlorophyll content, plant height and yields. Application of soil fertility inputs significantly improved grain and stover yields except in the crop residue combined with animal manure and legume intercrop treatment (perhaps due to nutrients’ competition since Lablab has an intensive rooting system). Sole organic inputs enhanced soil moisture content in both sites. Emerging from the study, however, is the lack of advantage of minimum tillage over the conventional tillage, within the period under consideration. Thus, this study highlights the possibility of improving soil water holding capacity through application of organic inputs such as crop residues, Tithonia diversifolia and manure, either singly or in combination. It further underpins the uniqueness of an integrated approach to soil fertility and low soil moisture content in the tropical sub-humid regions experiencing erratic rainfall.Publication Suitability of different data sources in rainfall pattern characterization in the tropical central highlands of Kenya(Heliyon, 2020-10-26) Oduor, Nathan O.; Ng'etich, Felix K.; Kiboi, Milka N.; Muriuki, Anne; Adamtey, Noah; Mugendi, Daniel N.Uncertainty in rainfall pattern has put rain-fed agriculture in jeopardy, even for the regions considered high rainfall potential like the Central Highlands of Kenya (CHK). The rainfall pattern in the CHK is spatially and temporally variable in terms of onset and cessation dates, frequency and occurrence of dry spells, and seasonal distribution. Appraisal of the variability is further confounded by the lack of sufficient observational data that can enable accurate characterisation of the rainfall pattern in the region. We, therefore, explored the utilisation of satellite daily rainfall estimates from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for rainfall pattern characterisation in the CHK. Observed daily rainfall data sourced from Kenya meteorological department were used as a reference point. The observation period was from 1997 to 2015. Rainfall in the CHK was highly variable, fairly distributed and with low intensity in all the seasons. Onset dates ranged between mid-February to mid-March and mid-August to mid-October for long rains (LR) and short rains (SR) seasons, respectively. Cessation dates ranged from late May to mid-June and mid-December to late December for the LR and SR, respectively. There was a high probability (93%) of dry spell occurrence. More research needs to be done on efficient use of the available soil moisture and on drought tolerant crop varieties to reduce the impact of drought on crop productivity. Comparison between satellite and observed rain gauge data showed close agreement at monthly scale than at daily scale, with general agreement between the two datasets. Hence, we concluded that, given the availability, accessibility, frequency of estimation and spatial resolution, satellite estimates can complement observed rain gauge data. Stakeholders in the fields of agriculture, natural resource management, environment among others, can utilise the findings of this study in planning to reduce rainfall-related risks and enhance food security.