5 research outputs found
On-farm trials with rice fish cultivation in the west Kano rice irrigation scheme, Kenya
The viability of integrating rice farming with fish culture was studied in ten (10) rice plots. The on-farm research was done during one rice-growing season starting May 2003. The rice variety used was IR 2793-80-1 while the fish species was the Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The fish culture period lasted 77 days. An average fish production of 132.4 kg/ha was obtained. The mean recovery rate of tilapia was 43 per cent. Total rice yield from the fields stocked with fish was lower than from unstocked fields. The net returns were not significantly different
EFFECT OF RIDGING AND INTERCROPPING ON SORGHUM PRODUCTIVITY IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID LANDS OF EASTERN KENYA
Soil moisture deficit is a key constraint to sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor
) productivity in arid and semi-arid lands globally. The objective of
this study was to determine the effect of ridging and sorghum-bean
intercropping (additive system) on soil moisture conservation and
sorghum productivity. Sorghum (gadam) was grown either as a sole crop
or intercropped with two bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties
(KATx56 and KAT B1), under two types of ridging (open ridges and tied
ridges), and a control without ridges for two years. The study was set
up in split plot arrangement, in a randomised complete block design, at
the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kiboko, in
2019 and 2020. There was no significant interaction between ridging and
intercropping. Soil moisture content increased by 11-26% due to
ridging; and decreased by -11 and -7% due to sorghum-KAT B1 and
Sorghum-KAT X56 intercropping, respectively. Higher moisture content
due to ridging was attributed to formation of basin-like structures,
which increased water harvesting and infiltration compared to the no
ridges where surface run-off was predominant. The highest moisture
content was attained on sole bean, followed by sole sorghum and then
sorghum/bean intercropping. The decrease in moisture content in
intercrops of sorghum/bean relative to their specific sole crops was
attributed to higher crop density, which reduced crop spacing, thus
triggering competition for available soil moisture. The highest sorghum
grain and equivalent yields were obtained in the ridged plots.
Intercropping resulted into decrease in sorghum grain yield, but led to
increase in sorghum equivalent yield (SEY) and Land Equivalent Ratio
(LER). The results show that both ridging and intercropping are
suitable for higher water use efficiency and land productivity in ASALs
of Kenya.Le d\ue9ficit d\u2019humidit\ue9 du sol est une contrainte majeure
\ue0 la productivit\ue9 du sorgho (Sorghum bicolor) dans les terres
arides et semi-arides \ue0 l\u2019\ue9chelle mondiale.
L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de d\ue9terminer
l\u2019effet du billonnage et de la culture intercalaire
sorgho-haricot (syst\ue8me additif) sur la conservation de
l\u2019humidit\ue9 du sol et la productivit\ue9 du sorgho. Le
sorgho (gadam) \ue9tait cultiv\ue9 soit en monoculture, soit en
association avec deux vari\ue9t\ue9s de haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris
L.) (KATx56 et KAT B1), sous deux types de billons (billons ouverts et
billons li\ue9s), et un t\ue9moin sans billons pendant deux
ann\ue9es. L\u2019\ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 mise en place en
parcelles divis\ue9es, dans une conception en blocs complets
randomis\ue9s, \ue0 l\u2019Organisation de recherche sur
l\u2019agriculture et l\u2019\ue9levage du Kenya, Kiboko, en 2019
et 2020. L\u2019\ue9tude n\u2019a montr\ue9 aucune interaction
significative entre le billonnage et la culture intercalaire. La teneur
en humidit\ue9 du sol a augment\ue9 de 11 \ue0 26 % en raison du
billonnage ; et diminu\ue9 de -11 et -7% en raison des cultures
intercalaires sorgho-KAT B1 et Sorgho-KAT X56, respectivement. La
teneur en humidit\ue9 plus \ue9lev\ue9e due aux cr\ueates a
\ue9t\ue9 attribu\ue9e \ue0 la formation de structures de type
bassin, ce qui a augment\ue9 la collecte et l\u2019infiltration de
l\u2019eau par rapport \ue0 l\u2019absence de cr\ueates o\uf9
le ruissellement de surface \ue9tait pr\ue9dominant. La teneur en
humidit\ue9 la plus \ue9lev\ue9e \ue9tait sur le haricot
unique, suivi du sorgho unique, puis de la culture intercalaire
sorgho/haricot. La diminution de la teneur en humidit\ue9 dans les
cultures intercalaires de sorgho/haricot par rapport \ue0 leurs
cultures uniques sp\ue9cifiques a \ue9t\ue9 attribu\ue9e \ue0
une densit\ue9 de culture plus \ue9lev\ue9e, qui a r\ue9duit
l\u2019espacement des cultures, d\ue9clenchant une comp\ue9tition
pour l\u2019humidit\ue9 disponible du sol. Les rendements les plus
\ue9lev\ue9s en grain de sorgho et en \ue9quivalent ont
\ue9t\ue9 obtenus dans les parcelles butt\ue9es. La culture
intercalaire a entra\ueen\ue9 une diminution du rendement en grains
de sorgho, mais a entra\ueen\ue9 une augmentation du rendement
\ue9quivalent en sorgho (SEY) et du rapport d\u2019\ue9quivalent
en terres (LER). Les r\ue9sultats montrent que le billonnage et la
culture intercalaire conviennent \ue0 une plus grande efficacit\ue9
de l\u2019utilisation de l\u2019eau et \ue0 la productivit\ue9
des terres dans les TASA du Kenya
Efficacy of traditional maize (Zea mays L.) seed storage methods in western Kenya.
Seed security is key to the attainment of household food security among
resource poor farmers in developing countries. In a baseline survey
carried out in Siaya and Busia Districts of Western Kenya, storage was
identified as a priority problem facing onfarm seed production. During
the survey, it was found that about 80% of the farmers produce and
store their own seeds for planting in the next cropping season. During
this process of seed saving, farmers reported some decline in seed
quality thus leading to poor germination and eventually poor yields. A
storage experiment was, therefore, set up with the objective of
improving the efficacy of traditional maize seed storage methods in
maintaining seed viability and vigour as compared to some improved
ones. The traditional methods included hanging cobs over the fireplace
and storing in gunny bags with cow dung ash as the seed treatment.
These were compared with seed treatment using Mortein Doom®, a
modern seed protectant and cow dung ash; in both cases seeds were
stored in airtight containers. These treatments were applied on two
maize varieties: Rachar, a local variety and Maseno Double Cobber, an
improved variety and the experiment was carried out in the houses of
four farmers. Quality analysis of the seeds was done first before
storage and then after three and six months of storage. The results
indicate that the traditional methods had the poorest performance. They
had significantly lower vigour after three and six months' storage and
recorded significantly higher insect damage. Seeds hung above the
fireplace had the highest insect damage and this was about 99% higher
than the damage recorded for seeds treated with ash and stored in
airtight plastic containers. Seeds hung above the fireplace also had
significantly higher moisture content increase. The best treatment was
storage in airtight containers with either Mortein Doom® or cow
dung ash as the seed treatment. Genetic differences in storability
between the 2 varieties were not observed. This study concluded that
the principle of airtight, though not new, should be used to design low
cost seed storage containers for resource-poor farmers which will
result in better seed quality. The study further shows that cow dung
which is freely available in most homesteads is a good seed protectant
and is effective in maintaining seed quality in storage. Cow dung ash
should therefore be combined with air tight storage to increase the
seed longevity