Efficiency and interactive effects of Tillage Practices, Cropping Systems and Organic Inputs on Soil Moisture Retention in Semi-Arid Yatta Sub-County, Kenya
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Date
2014Author
Chepkemoi, Janeth
Onwonga, R N
Karuku, George N
Kathumo, Vincent M
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The study evaluated the efficiency and interactive of tillage practices, cropping systems and
organic inputs (soil moisture conservation techniques) on soil moisture retention in semi-arid
Yatta sub-county between October 2012 and February 2013 short rain season (SRS) and
March to August 2013 long rain season (LRS). The experiment was laid out in Randomized
Complete Block Design with a split-split plot arrangement. Main plots were; tillage practices
(TP); Oxen plough (OP), tied ridges (TR) and furrows and ridges (FR). The Split-plots were;
cropping systems (CS); mono cropping (MC), intercropping (IC) and crop rotation (CR)
while the split-split plots were organic inputs; farmyard manure (FYM), Minjingu Rock
Phosphate (MRP), combined MRP and FYM (MRP+FYM) and control. Sorghum and sweet
potatoes were grown as intercrops or in rotation with Dolichos (Dolichos lablab) and chickpea
(Cicer arietinum L.). Soil samples were taken at 0-30 cm depth at the start of the experiment
and maturity of test crops for determination of soil moisture content (expressed as
percentage) and efficiency of soil moisture conservation techniques. Significant (p≤0.05)
increased in soil moisture content was recorded, across deasons, in TR with IC of dolichos
and application of FYM (7.53% and 7.88%) for sorghum and sweet potato plots
respectively. For enhanced efficiency of soil moisture conservation in the semi-arid Yatta
district, TR with an intercrop of dolichos and sorghum and/or dolichos and sweet potato
with application of FYM +MRP would be the soil moisture conservation technique of
choice.
Citation
Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences June 2014, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 145-156Subject
Cropping systemsTillage practices
Organic inputs
Semi-arid
Soil moisture conservation techniques