Browsing by Author "Mairura, F.S."

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    Assessment of farmers’ perceptions of soil quality indicators within smallholder farms in the central highlands of Kenya
    (Springer, 2007) Mairura, F.S.; Mugendi, Daniel N.; Mwanje, J.I.; Ramisch, J.J.; Mbugua, P.K.
    A study was conducted to determine farmers’ perceptions of soil quality and soil management practices that influenced soil fertility within farmers’ fields in Chuka and Gachoka divisions in central Kenya highlands. Soils were characterized by farmers after which they were geo-referenced and sampled at surface depth (0–20 cm) for subsequent physical and chemical analyses, to determine differences within farmers’ soil quality categories. Special attention was given to agricultural weed species. Indicators for distinguishing productive and non-productive fields included crop yield, crop performance, soil colour and soil texture. A total of 18 weed species were used to distinguish between high and low soil categories. Significant differences among soil fertility categories implied that there were qualitative difference in the soils that were chacterised as different by farmers. Fertile soils had significantly higher pH, total organic carbon and exchangeable cations, with available-N being significantly different in Gachoka. Factor analysis on 15 soil properties identified 4 factors that explained 65% of the total variance in soil quality. Soil fertility and crop management practices that were investigated indicated that farmers understood and consequently utilized spatial heterogeneity and temporal variability in soil quality status within their farms as a resource to maintain or enhance agricultural productivity
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    Household's socio-economic factors influencing the level of adaptation to climate variability in the dry zones of Eastern Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2015-11) Mugendi, Daniel N.; Mugi-Ngenga, E.W.; Mucheru-Muna, M.W.; Mugwe, Jayne; Ngetich, F.K.; Mairura, F.S.
    Climate variability has a negative impact on crop productivity and has had an effect on many small-holder farmers in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). Small-holder farmers in Eastern Kenya are faced with the constraint associated with climate variability and have consequently made effort at local level to utilize adaptation techniques in their quest to adapt to climate variability. However, documentation of the factors that influence the level of adaptation to climate variability in the study area is quite limited. Hence, this study aimed at assessing how the household's socio-economic factors influence the level of adaptation to climate variability. The study sites were Tharaka and Kitui-Central sub-Counties in Tharaka-Nithi and Kitui Counties of Eastern Kenya respectively. The data collected included the household demographic and socio-economic characteristics and farmers' adaptation techniques to cope with climate variability. Triangulation approach research design was used to simultaneously collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data was gathered through a household survey. Both random and purposive sampling strategies were employed. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. Multinomial and Binary logistic regression models were used to predict the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on the level of adaptation to climate variability. This was done using variables derived through a data reduction process that employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The study considered five strategies as measures of the level of adaptation to climate variability; crop adjustment; crop management; soil fertility management; water harvesting and crop types; boreholes and crop variety. Several factors were found significant in predicting the level of adaptation to climate variability as being either low or medium relative to high. These were average size of land under maize; farming experience; household size; household members involved in farming; education level; age; main occupation and gender of the household head. Household socio economic factors found significant in explaining the level of adaptation should be considered in any efforts that aim to promote adaptation to climate variability in the agricultural sector amongst smallholder farmers.
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    Restoring soil nutrient stocks using local inputs, tillage and sorghum-green gram intercropping strategies for drylands in Eastern Kenya
    (UoEm, 2023) Njiru, L.G.; Yegon, J.R.; Mwithiga, G.; Micheni, A.; Gitari, N.J.; Mairura, F.S.
    Soil macronutrient and micronutrient availability is particularly critical in semi-arid agro- ecological zones that are characterized by poor soil fertility and low rainfall regimes. An experiment was initiated in Siakago, Embu County to investigate the effects of tied-ridges, conventional tillage and input applications on soil nutrient fertility using a randomized complete block design with a split-split plot arrangement for 4 seasons (2018–2021). The treatments comprised of two main plot tillage systems, three cropping systems allocated to the sub-plots and four soil input management treatments assigned to sub-sub plots. ANOVA was used to test the effects of different treatments including tillage, crop system and soil fertility management using Genstat software. The data was also subjected to Principal Component Analysis procedures using R ("FactoMineR" and "factoextra") to examine the inter-relationship patterns between different soil fertility parameters and to reduce the data into independent soil fertility components. There were significant main effects due to crop system (Soil Mn), tillage and crop system interaction (SOC and TSN) and soil fertility management (TOC, TSN, Ca, Zn). Soil inputs significantly influenced soil carbon concentrations (p = 0.002), with the lowest values observed in the control (0.2 %), followed by sole fertilizer (0.35 %), manure + fertilizer (0.41 %) and the fully decomposed manure treatment (0.61 %). The soil-extracted manganese values recorded significant effects due to crop system, while soil-extracted Zn values were significant due to soil fertility management. Multivariate analysis results revealed the structure of soil nutrient distribution. Tied ridging can improve soil micronutrient availability through reduced soil erosion, conservation of soil organic matter, which can improve soil micronutrient availability. Soil conservation practices such as tied-ridging integrated with organic input applications can enhance multiple nutrient availability for improved crop performance and human nutrition in dryland farming systems where farmers lack soil moisture, technologies and resources to enhance crop nutrient availability.
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    Tied-ridging and soil inputs enhance small-scale maize productivity and profitability under erratic rainfall conditions in central Kenya
    (UoEM, 2023) M., Ndung’u; Mugwe, J.N.; Mucheru-Muna, M.W; Ngetich, F.K.; Mairura, F.S.; Mugendi, D.N
    Deficits in soil moisture and low soil fertility are the major constraints to smallholder farming systems in the SSA (sub-Saharan Africa) region. This study evaluated the effects of tied ridging and selected soil fertility inputs on; soil water content at different depths, maize yields, and economic returns. The treatments were: Tithonia diversifolia + inorganic fertilizer, manure + inorganic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, and control with or without tied ridging as the soil water conservation factor. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and the means were separated using LSD at p ≤ 0.05. Treatments with Tithonia diversifolia or manure combined with inorganic fertilizer with or without tied ridging consistently affected soil water content positively. The effect of tied ridging on soil water content was greater during the short rain season compared to the long rains. In addition, there was evidence that tied ridging and organic soil inputs resulted in greater soil moisture conservation during the critical silking and tasselling maize phenological stages during the short rain season. Treatments had significant effects on grain and stover yields during the long rain 2016 season (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0477, respectively) and the short rain 2016 season (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0035, respectively). The highest (4.87 Mg ha− 1 ) maize grain yield was recorded in Tithonia diversifolia plus inorganic fertilizer under tied ridging in the long rain 2016 season, while manure + inorganic fertilizer without tied ridging gave the highest yields (1.27 Mg ha− 1 ) in the short rain 2016 season. The highest net benefits of US$ 1229.90 ha− 1 and US$ 171.57 ha− 1 were recorded under Tithonia diversifolia plus inorganic fertilizer with tied ridging during the long and short rain seasons, respectively. Overall, the best-performing treatments in yields and profitability were those that combined organic and inorganic fertilizers, regardless of the presence or absence of tied ridging. Climate-smart agricultural strategies combining tied ridges and organic inputs should be an integral component of farmer management if losses related to soil fertility and water stress are to be minimized under erratic rainfall regimes in the semiarid farming systems of the SSA region.