Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya

Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation of soils without adequate addition of external inputs is a major challenge in the highlands of Kenya. An experiment was set up in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate the effects of different soil-incorporated organic (manure...

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Autores principales: Mucheru-Muna, M., Mugendi, DN, Kung'u, J.B., Mugwe, J, Bationo, B. André
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2007
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43395
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author Mucheru-Muna, M.
Mugendi, DN
Kung'u, J.B.
Mugwe, J
Bationo, B. André
author_browse Bationo, B. André
Kung'u, J.B.
Mucheru-Muna, M.
Mugendi, DN
Mugwe, J
author_facet Mucheru-Muna, M.
Mugendi, DN
Kung'u, J.B.
Mugwe, J
Bationo, B. André
author_sort Mucheru-Muna, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation of soils without adequate addition of external inputs is a major challenge in the highlands of Kenya. An experiment was set up in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate the effects of different soil-incorporated organic (manure, Tithonia diversifolia, Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala) and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield, and soil chemical properties over seven seasons. On average, tithonia treatments (with or without half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer) gave the highest grain yield (5.5 and 5.4 Mg ha?1 respectively) while the control treatment gave the lowest yield (1.5 Mg ha?1). After 2 years of trial implementation, total soil carbon and nitrogen contents were improved with the application of organic residues, and manure in particular improved soil calcium content. Results of the economic analysis indicated that on average across the seven seasons, tithonia with half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer treatment recorded the highest net benefit (USD 787 ha?1) while the control recorded the lowest (USD 272 ha?1). However, returns to labor or benefit-cost ratios were in most cases not significantly improved when organic materials were used.
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spelling CGSpace433952024-08-27T10:35:15Z Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya Mucheru-Muna, M. Mugendi, DN Kung'u, J.B. Mugwe, J Bationo, B. André cropping systems maize yields inorganic fertilizers organic fertilizers soil fertility sistemas de cultivo maíz rendimiento abonos inorgánicos abonos orgánicos fertilidad del suelo forestry Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation of soils without adequate addition of external inputs is a major challenge in the highlands of Kenya. An experiment was set up in Meru South District, Kenya in 2000 to investigate the effects of different soil-incorporated organic (manure, Tithonia diversifolia, Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala) and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield, and soil chemical properties over seven seasons. On average, tithonia treatments (with or without half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer) gave the highest grain yield (5.5 and 5.4 Mg ha?1 respectively) while the control treatment gave the lowest yield (1.5 Mg ha?1). After 2 years of trial implementation, total soil carbon and nitrogen contents were improved with the application of organic residues, and manure in particular improved soil calcium content. Results of the economic analysis indicated that on average across the seven seasons, tithonia with half recommended rate of mineral fertilizer treatment recorded the highest net benefit (USD 787 ha?1) while the control recorded the lowest (USD 272 ha?1). However, returns to labor or benefit-cost ratios were in most cases not significantly improved when organic materials were used. 2007-02-26 2014-09-24T08:42:04Z 2014-09-24T08:42:04Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43395 en Limited Access Springer
spellingShingle cropping systems
maize
yields
inorganic fertilizers
organic fertilizers
soil fertility
sistemas de cultivo
maíz
rendimiento
abonos inorgánicos
abonos orgánicos
fertilidad del suelo
forestry
Mucheru-Muna, M.
Mugendi, DN
Kung'u, J.B.
Mugwe, J
Bationo, B. André
Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
title Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
title_full Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
title_fullStr Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
title_short Effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in Meru South District, Kenya
title_sort effects of organic and mineral fertilizer inputs on maize yield and soil chemical properties in a maize cropping systems in meru south district kenya
topic cropping systems
maize
yields
inorganic fertilizers
organic fertilizers
soil fertility
sistemas de cultivo
maíz
rendimiento
abonos inorgánicos
abonos orgánicos
fertilidad del suelo
forestry
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43395
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