Abstract
Soil fertility degradation remains the major biophysical cause of declining per capita crop production on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa. Appropriate soil fertility regimes, are therefore, critical for improved crop productivity. This study investigated the feasibility of using sole organics or their combinations with inorganicfertilisers to improve maize (Zea mays) production in the highlands central Kenya. Sole application of Calliandra calotyrsus, Leucaena trichandra trichandra, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Tithonia diversifolia and cattle manure at 60 kg N ha-1 or combined application of the organic materials (30 kg N ha-1) plus inorganic fertiliser (30 kg N ha-1) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher maize grain yields than the recommended rate of inorganic fertiliser (60 kg N ha-1). These treatments maintained maize yields at 4 to 6 t ha-1. Farmers had theirown innovations where they combined organic resources and generally appreciable yields (3.0 to 5.6 t ha-1) were obtained from these innovations. However, there was a maize yield gap between on station and on farm trials with on station yields having on average 65% more yields than the on-farm yields. This was mainly attributedto differences in management practices arising from partial adoption of recommended rates. There is need therefore to develop and implement mechanisms tailored to ensure that farmers’ modications recommended soil amendment regimes and other agronomic practices are appropriate for enhanced crop productivity. Further studies are needed to establish the optimum mixture of different organic materials.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Sole organic inputs produced significantly higher maize grain yields than inorganic fertilizer.
- Treatment
- Sole application of Calliandra calotyrsus, Leucaena trichandra trichandra, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Tithonia diversifolia and cattle manure at 60 kg N ha-1e0
- Outcome
- maize grain yieldse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- recommended rate of inorganic fertiliser (60 kg N ha-1)e0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sole application of Calliandra calotyrsus, Leucaena trichandra trichandra, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Tithonia diversifolia and cattle manure at 60 kg N ha-1 or combined application of the organic materials (30 kg N ha-1) plus inorganic fertiliser (30 kg N ha-1) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher maize grain yields than the recommended rate of inorganic fertiliser (60 kg N ha-1).”
Claim · model-written summary
Combined organic and inorganic fertilizer produced significantly higher maize grain yields than inorganic fertilizer.
- Treatment
- combined application of the organic materials (30 kg N ha-1) plus inorganic fertiliser (30 kg N ha-1)e0
- Outcome
- maize grain yieldse0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- recommended rate of inorganic fertiliser (60 kg N ha-1)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“combined application of the organic materials (30 kg N ha-1) plus inorganic fertiliser (30 kg N ha-1) gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher maize grain yields than the recommended rate of inorganic fertiliser (60 kg N ha-1).”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
These fertilizer treatments maintained maize yields at 4 to 6 t ha-1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“These treatments maintained maize yields at 4 to 6 t ha-1.”
Claim · model-written summary
Farmer combinations of organic resources gave yields of 3.0 to 5.6 t ha-1.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Farmers had theirown innovations where they combined organic resources and generally appreciable yields (3.0 to 5.6 t ha-1) were obtained from these innovations.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
On-station maize yields averaged 65% more than on-farm yields.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“on station yields having on average 65% more yields than the on-farm yields.”
t0“maize”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors attributed the yield gap mainly to management differences from partial adoption.
- Outcome
- maize yieldt0
- Qualifier
- differences in management practices arising from partial adoption of recommended ratese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“This was mainly attributedto differences in management practices arising from partial adoption of recommended rates.”
t0“maize yield”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend mechanisms to ensure modified soil amendment practices support crop productivity.
- Outcome
- enhanced crop productivitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There is need therefore to develop and implement mechanisms tailored to ensure that farmers’ modications recommended soil amendment regimes and other agronomic practices are appropriate for enhanced crop productivity.”
t0“maize”
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