November 2013

Integrating scientific and farmers’ perception towards evaluation of rain-fed agricultural technologies for sorghum and cowpea productivity in Central Kenya

Soil fertility degradation remains the major biophysical cause of declining per capita crop production on smallholder farms in Central Kenya highlands. A study was conducted to compare farmers’ perception and biophysical data on selected water harvesting and integrated soil fertility management technologies on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) production in Central highlands...

Author(s): Njeru P. N. M., Mugwe J., Maina I., Mucheru-Muna M., Mugendi D., Lekasi, J. K., Kimani S. K., Miriti J., Esilaba A. O. and Muriithi F.

November 2013

Nutrient uptake by Abelmuscus esculentus and its effects on changes in soil chemical properties as influenced by residual application of fertilizer

A field experiment was conducted as an on-farm trial at Uyinmwendin (Rhodic Paleudult), Edo State, Nigeria, in 2009 and 2010 to investigate the residue of compost manure, compost manure + NPK and NPK fertilizer treatments on nutrient concentration and uptake of Abelmuscus esculentus and soil chemical properties. Five treatments were selected viz: untreated (control), compost manure applied at the rate of 20 and 40 t...

Author(s): Law-Ogbomo, K. E.

November 2013

Effect of kitchen wastewater irrigation on soil properties and growth of cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

Scarcity of freshwater is becoming an increasing problem primarily in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. The study was designed to investigate the effects of wastewater irrigation on soil properties and growth parameters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) in southwestern Nigeria. The irrigation treatments consisted of kitchen wastewater, rainwater and groundwater in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in...

Author(s): Abegunrin, T. P. Awe, G. O., Idowu, D. O., Onigbogi, O. O. and Onofua, O. E.

November 2013

The effects of tillage systems on soil physical properties and water conservation in a sandy loam soil in Eastern Kenya

Soil water conservation through tillage is widely accepted as one of the appropriate ways of addressing soil moisture constraints in rainfed agriculture. A field experiment was conducted for 6 seasons (2007 to 2009) to evaluate the effects of 3 tillage practices namely ox-plough (OP), subsoiling-ripping (SR) and tied-ridge (TR) on soil physical and hydro-physical properties of a sandy loam soil. Soil surface roughness,...

Author(s): J. M. Miriti, G. Kironchi, A. O. Esilaba, C. K. K. Gachene , L. K. Heng and D. M. Mwangi