scholarly journals Use of Organic Inputs in Management of Alfisols and Ultisols for Sustainable Maize Production in Western Kenya

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 884-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ouma
Keyword(s):  
Maize Production ◽  
Western Kenya

IMMEDIATE AND RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF LIME AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON SOIL ACIDITY AND MAIZE PRODUCTION IN WESTERN KENYA

2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. O. KISINYO ◽  
C. O. OTHIENO ◽  
S. O. GUDU ◽  
J. R. OKALEBO ◽  
P. A. OPALA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Available P ◽  
Fertilizer Rate ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Exchangeable Al ◽  
Soil Available P ◽  
P Fertilizer ◽  
Fertilizer Recovery

SUMMARYSoil acidity and phosphorus (P) deficiency are some of the major causes of low maize yields in Kenya. This study determined the immediate and residual effects of lime and P fertilizer on soil pH, exchangeable aluminium (Al), available P, maize grain yield, agronomic P use and P fertilizer recovery efficiencies on a western Kenya acid soil. The treatments were: P fertilizer (0, 26 and 52 kg P ha−1as triple super phosphate) and lime (0, 2, 4 and 6 tons lime ha−1) applied once at the beginning of the study. A burnt liming material with 92.5% calcium carbonate equivalent was used. Soil samples were analysed prior to and after treatment application. The site had low soil pH–H2O (4.9), available P (2.3 mg kg−1), total N (0.17%), high Al (2.0 cmol kg−1exchangeable Al and 29% Al saturation). Lime reduced soil pH and exchangeable Al, leading to increased soil available P. Lime at 2, 4 and 6 tons ha−1maintained soil pH ≥ 5.5 for 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. The study observed that the recommended P fertilizer rate (26 kg P ha−1) for maize production in Kenya was inadequate to raise soil available P to the critical level (≥10 mg P kg−1soil bicarbonate extractable P) required for healthy maize growth. To maintain soil available P at the critical level where 52 kg P ha−1and combined 52 kg P ha−1+ 4 tons lime ha−1were applied, it would be necessary to reapply the same P fertilizer rate after every one and two cropping seasons, respectively. The 4-year mean grain yield increments were 0.17, 0.34, 0.50, 0.58 and 1.17 tons ha−1due to 2, 4, 6 tons lime ha−1, 26 kg P and 52 kg P ha−1, respectively. Both agronomic P use and P fertilizer recovery efficiencies increased with increasing rates of lime and decreased with increasing rates of P fertilizer. Therefore, combined applications of both lime and P fertilizer are important for enhancing maize production on P-deficient acid soils in western Kenya.

scholarly journals Soil Maize Cultivar-related Challenges on Striga hermonthica Infested Fields in Western Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Celestine Manyasi ◽  
Dennis Ochieno ◽  
Francis Muyekho ◽  
John Muoma ◽  
Mwikali Pamela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Yellow Seed ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Maize Varieties

Maize production in Western Kenya is constrained by Striga hermonthica and declining soil fertility. Integrated Striga Management (ISM) packages have been proposed. An ISM field experiment assessed combination of 4 maize varieties with 5 levels of soil fertility amendments. Imazapyr Resistant (IR) maize and local yellow seed Shipindi had highest germination percentages of 90% and 81% respectively, compared to commercial white seed Duma and local white seed Rachar. Duma had significantly large plants in terms of leave size and plant height; and taking least time to silking and tasseling while producing heaviest cobs and grains per plant. Synthetic fertilizer (DAP+CAN) was associated with the least germination percentage, but produced the largest plants with many leaves, took the shortest time to silking, and produced highest cob weight and grain weight, with very low S. hermonthica infestations regardless of the maize varieties. Cattle manure (CM) and water hyacinth compost containing cattle manure culture (HCM) and Effective Microbes™ (HEM) had the highest S. hermonthica population per unit area. Maize grown with water hyacinth compost containing Effective Microbes™ (HEM) positively influenced cob weight than those receiving cattle manure (CM) and the controls; while being associated with the highest numerical increase in grain yield/area. Alternative soil fertility interventions based on these observations are therefore proposed.

scholarly journals Weed Dynamics during Transition to Conservation Agriculture in Western Kenya Maize Production

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e0133976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith A. Odhiambo ◽  
Urszula Norton ◽  
Dennis Ashilenje ◽  
Emmanuel C. Omondi ◽  
Jay B. Norton
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Weed Dynamics

Coppicing improved fallows are profitable for maize production in striga infested soils of western Kenya

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abednego Kiwia ◽  
Moses Imo ◽  
Bashir Jama ◽  
John R. Okalebo
Keyword(s):  
Improved Fallows ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Western Kenya

Optimizing genotype-environment-management interactions to ensure silage maize production in the Chinese Maize Belt

2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-146
Author(s):  
L Zhang ◽  
Z Zhang ◽  
J Cao ◽  
Y Luo ◽  
Z Li
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Early Date ◽  
Environment Management ◽  
Silage Maize

Grain maize production exceeds the demand for grain maize in China. Methods for harvesting good-quality silage maize urgently need a theoretical basis and reference data in order to ensure its benefits to farmers. However, research on silage maize is limited, and very few studies have focused on its energetic value and quality. Here, we calibrated the CERES-Maize model for 24 cultivars with 93 field experiments and then performed a long-term (1980-2017) simulation to optimize genotype-environment-management (G-E-M) interactions in the 4 main agroecological zones across China. We found that CERES-Maize could reproduce the growth and development of maize well under various management and weather conditions with a phenology bias of <5 d and biomass relative root mean square error values of <5%. The simulated results showed that sowing long-growth-cycle cultivars approximately 10 d in advance could yield good-quality silage. The optimal sowing dates (from late May to July) and harvest dates (from early October to mid-November) gradually became later from north to south. A high-energy yield was expected when sowing at an early date and/or with late-maturing cultivars. We found that Northeast China and the North China Plain were potential silage maize growing areas, although these areas experienced a medium or even high frost risk. Southwestern maize experienced a low risk level, but the low soil fertility limited the attainable yield. The results of this paper provide information for designing an optimal G×E×M strategy to ensure silage maize production in the Chinese Maize Belt.

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