Soil fertility status and nodulation of selected legumes in farmers' fields in south-eastern Kenya
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Date
2011-09Author
Muthomi, J.W
Wahome, P. K.
Chemining'wa, G.N.
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A field study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status and root
nodulation of selected legumes in farmers' fields in upper and lower midlands
agro-ecological zones (AEZ) of south-eastern Kenya. Soils collected from 26
farmers' fields were analyzed for soil pH, organic C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu,
Fe and Zn. Hyacinth bean, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpea
(Vigna unguiculata), lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), pigeon pea (Cajanus
cajan), and green gram (Vigna radiata) were planted in po1ythene bags
containing sterilized river sand and inoculated with soils from each AEZ and
commercial rhizobia1 inocu1ants from the University of Nairobi's Soil
Microbiology Laboratory. Seedlings were nourished using Broughton and
Dilworth N-free solution (Broughton and Dilworth 1971). Soil analysis results
showed that soils from farmers' fields were deficient ofN, P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe
and Zn while K and Mn were adequate. Soil pH ranged from 4.30 to 6.76 with
16 ofthe fields having pH below 6. Twenty five sites were deficient in organic
C. Nodulation of the selected legumes varied significantly across AEZs while
plants inoculated with commercial inocu1ants had higher nodule numbers and
nodule dry weights. However, inoculation with soils from collected from farm
s in AEZ LM5 and LM3 soils increased tissue N in bean and cowpea plants
significantly compared to the commercial inocu1ants and the other soils. Soils
in south eastern Kenya are low in fertility and have variable capacity to support
root nodulation of legumes.
Citation
Optimimization of Agricultural Value Chains for sustainable DevelopmentSponsorhip
National Council of Science and Technology, The Kenya Seed CompanyPublisher
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi
Description
aGRO 2011 biennial conference presentation