Browsing by Author "Ngetich, K. F."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Publication Application of GIS on the Identification of Suitable Areas for Water Conservation Technologies in the Upper Tana Watershed of the Central Highlands of Kenya(IJPSS, 2019) Nganga, B. W.; Nge’tich, K. O.; Adamtey, N.; Milka, K.; Ngetich, K. F.Low adoption of soil water conservation technologies has been one of the main causes for decreased agricultural productivity in the Upper Tana Catchment of Kenya. Proper identification of locations to scale-out the individual technologies necessary to improve water conservation is a key determinant for the rate of adoption. Our main aim was to identify the suitable sites for water conservation technologies using the suitability model created by the model builder function in ArcGIS 10.5® . The model combined the thematic layers of soil texture, slope, rainfall, and stream order, which were acquired from assorted online sources. The factors were converted to raster format and reclassified based on their suitability and were assigned fixed scores and weights byuse of multi influencing factor (MIF) method. The suitability evaluation was carried out by use of weighted overlay to produce suitability classes for each of the water conservation technique. The delineated suitability maps indicated that check dams are highly suitable in 50% of the study area. Mulching, on the other hand, is highly suitable for 49% of the study area. Zai pits are highly suitable in 43% of the study area. Majority of the study area is moderately suitable for the use of terraces, covering 41% of the study area. The highly suitable areas for the Checkdams are Machakos, Kitui, Tharaka-Nithi and lower parts of Embu. The highly suitable areas for mulching are Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Nyandarua and Nyeri. The highly suitable areas for the Zai pits are Kitui, lower parts of Tharaka-Nithi and the highly suitable areas for the terraces are Murang’a, Nyeri and Kirinyaga. Furthermore, the results demonstrated the effectiveness of GIS in delineating the suitable areas for the use of water conservation technologies.Publication Effects of soil and water conservation techniques on sorghum yield, runoff and soil moisture content in Upper Eastern Kenya(African Journal of Science, Technology and Social Siences, 2022-09-26) Omenda, J. A.; Ngetich, K. F.; Kiboi, M. N.; Mucheru-Muna, M. W.; Mugwe, J. N.; Mugendi, D. N.Water and nutrients are the main factors limiting grain production in the dry regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Given the onset of global climate change, the effects of drought stress on crop yield becomes more pronounced. Different approaches have been initiated to address this; however, they have been introduced at different times, in isolation, and at varying spatial scales. We evaluated four soil and water conservation technologies (mulching, minimum tillage, tied ridging and MBILI- intercrop) for three cropping seasons (short rains2020, long rains 2021, and short rains 2021) in the dry zones of central highlands of Kenya. The objectives were to determine effects of the technologies on run off, soil moisture content and to assess the influence of the technologies on sorghum yield. Experimental design was a randomized complete block with six treatments replicated four times. At the start of the experiment soil was sampled at 0-20cm and analysed for pH, N, P, K, C, Ca and Mg. Mulch was applied at a rate of 5t ha-1 and runoff sampled. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS version 9.4 and means separated using Tukey-Kramer Honest Significant Difference Test P≤ 0.05. Runoff, soil moisture and sorghum yield were significantly influenced by mulching. Run off was reduced by 50% (p=0.01) during long rains of 2021 and by 49% during short rains of 2021 under mulching treatment. During short rains of 2020 yield increased by 90% and 77% (p=0.001) under mulching and tied ridges respectively. The study highlights the importance of analyzing selected soil and water conservation technologies under rain fed conditions in response to declining food production with a focus on tied ridges and mulching.