Soil nutrient content, soil moisture and yield of Katumani maize in a semi-arid area of Kenya
Date
2007Author
Muniafu, Maina
Kinyamario, J I
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Many farmers in Kenya’s semi arid lands cannot afford to purchase inorganic fertilisers to improve their
crop yields. They thus rely on traditional agronomic practices such as addition of crop residues, animal
manures or intercrops of cereals and legumes. This study investigated soil parameters and their
influence on yield. It was carried out at the University of Nairobi’s Dryland, Research and Utilisation
Station located at Kibwezi. Soil parameters measured included soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen,
available phosphorus, soil moisture and soil texture and nitrogen mineralization rates. There was
significant correlation (p<0.05) in the growing seasons, between soil moisture and soil organic carbon
(r = 0.66, 0.81 and 0.65 for seasons 1, 2 and 3 respectively) as well as total soil nitrogen (r = 0.73, 0.79
and 0.70 for seasons 1, 2 and 3 respectively) and available phosphorus (r = 0.55 for season 1). Where
rainfall was low, maize yield correlated negatively (p<0.05) with percent clay content (r = -0.4) in season
one and showed no significant correlation (r=0.21) in season 3. Where rainfall amounts were high, (as in
season 2), the correlation was significant (r = 0.75). Nitrogen mineralization rate did not seem to have a
direct influence on yield but its effects were modified by soil moisture, soil texture and carbon to
nitrogen ratios of the soil. Overall the organic inputs seemed to have minimal impact on yield though
goat manure and pigeon pea intercropping had a melioration effect on the soil.
Citation
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Vol.1(4), pp. 081-085, November 2007Publisher
School of Biological Sciences