Browsing by Author "Omenda, Jane A."
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Item Analysis of the determinants of farmer participation in sorghum farming among small-scale farmers in Siaya County, Kenya(Elsevier, 2020-09) Okeyo, Samuel O.; Ndirangu, Samuel N.; Isaboke, Hezron N.; Njeru, Lucy K.; Omenda, Jane A.Sorghum as a drought tolerant crop provides an alternative opportunity towards increasing food production in the face of global climate change, mostly affecting Sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya is in the fore front in increasing the production of sorghum since its landmass is 80 percent arid and semi-arid. Few studies have evaluated farm and farmer related characteristics affecting adoption of sorghum production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine how selected factors affect the propensity of farmers to adopt sorghum production in Siaya County, Kenya. A total of 300 households were randomly selected as respondents in four sub-counties under sorghum production. Data was collected using semi-structured interview schedules administered to the selected farm households. The selected factors were subjected to descriptive analysis, while binary logistic regression model was applied for the quantitative analysis of the effect of these factors on adoption of sorghum production. The results of the regression analysis reveal that farm size, land size allocated to maize, beans and groundnut enterprise, land ownership and access to training significantly affected adoption of sorghum farming. The study underscores the significant impact of resource allocation decisions on uptake of sorghum production among farm households. Our findings show that farmers with larger farms are more likely to adopt sorghum production. However, due to industrial demand and food security potential of sorghum, we recommend that the extension service providers should also incentivize those with smaller farms to participate in sorghum production. Policies that will make sorghum enterprise more competitive over other crops, both at the farm and market level, are key. In addition, agricultural development policies should target provision of such services like training to streamline sorghum production in the arid and semi-arid areas in Kenya.Item Phosphorus availability and exchangeable aluminum response to phosphate rock and organic inputs in the Central Highlands of Kenya(Heliyon, 2021) Omenda, Jane A.; Ngetich, Kipchirchir F.; Kiboi, Milka N.; Muna, Mucheru; Mugendi, Daniel N.Soil acidity and phosphorus deficiency are some of the constraints hampering agricultural production in tropical regions. The prevalence of soil acidity is associated with phosphorus (P) insufficiency and aluminum saturation. We conducted a two-seasons experiment to evaluate soil phosphorus availability and exchangeable aluminum in response to phosphate rock and organic inputs in acidic humic nitisols. The field experiment was installed in Tharaka Nithi County in the Central Highlands of Kenya. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were: Green manure (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl.) (60 kg P ha 1), phosphate rock (60 kg P ha 1), goat manure (60 kg P ha 1), Tithonia diversifolia (20 kg P ha 1) combined with phosphate rock (40 kg P ha 1), manure (20 kg P ha 1) combined with phosphate rock (40 kg P ha 1), Triple Super Phosphate combined with Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (TSP þ CAN) (60 kg P ha 1) and a control (no input). During the long rains of the 2018 season (LR2018), Tithonia diversifolia þ phosphate rock had a significantly higher reduction (67%) of exchangeable aluminum than the sole use of Tithonia diversifolia. Grain yield under TSP þ CAN was the highest, followed by the sole organics during the LR2018. Tithonia diversifolia þ phosphate rock resulted in a 99% and a 90% increase in NaHCO3-Pi compared to sole phosphate rock and sole Tithonia diversifolia, respectively. Tithonia diversifolia led to 14% and 62% higher resin-Pi and NaOH-Pi, respectively, compared to manure in the short rains of 2017 (SR2017). The increase in NaOH-Po after the two seasons was statistically significant in sole TSP þ CAN. Based on the observed reduced exchangeable aluminum and additional nutrients like Ca, Mg, and K in the soil, sole organic inputs or in combination with phosphate rock treatments are feasible alternatives for sustaining soil phosphorus. Our findings underscore an integrated approach utilizing organic amendments combined with phosphate rock in acidic humic nitisols' phosphorus nutrient management.Item Phosphorus availability and exchangeable aluminum response to phosphate rock and organic inputs in the Central Highlands of Kenya(Heliyon, 2021-03) Omenda, Jane A.; Ngetich, F. K.; Kiboi, Milka N.; Mucheru-Muna, M.; Mugendi, Daniel N.Soil acidity and phosphorus deficiency are some of the constraints hampering agricultural production in tropical regions. The prevalence of soil acidity is associated with phosphorus (P) insufficiency and aluminum saturation. We conducted a two-seasons experiment to evaluate soil phosphorus availability and exchangeable aluminum in response to phosphate rock and organic inputs in acidic humic nitisols. The field experiment was installed in Tharaka Nithi County in the Central Highlands of Kenya. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were: Green manure (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl.) (60 kg P ha 1 ), phosphate rock (60 kg P ha 1 ), goat manure (60 kg P ha 1 ), Tithonia diversifolia (20 kg P ha 1 ) combined with phosphate rock (40 kg P ha 1 ), manure (20 kg P ha 1 ) combined with phosphate rock (40 kg P ha 1 ), Triple Super Phosphate combined with Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (TSP þ CAN) (60 kg P ha 1 ) and a control (no input). During the long rains of the 2018 season (LR2018), Tithonia diversifolia þ phosphate rock had a significantly higher reduction (67%) of exchangeable aluminum than the sole use of Tithonia diversifolia. Grain yield under TSP þ CAN was the highest, followed by the sole organics during the LR2018. Tithonia diversifolia þ phosphate rock resulted in a 99% and a 90% increase in NaHCO3-Pi compared to sole phosphate rock and sole Tithonia diversifolia, respectively. Tithonia diversifolia led to 14% and 62% higher resin-Pi and NaOH-Pi, respectively, compared to manure in the short rains of 2017 (SR2017). The increase in NaOH-Po after the two seasons was statistically significant in sole TSP þ CAN. Based on the observed reduced exchangeable aluminum and additional nutrients like Ca, Mg, and K in the soil, sole organic inputs or in combination with phosphate rock treatments are feasible alternatives for sustaining soil phosphorus. Our findings underscore an integrated approach utilizing organic amendments combined with phosphate rock in acidic humic nitisols' phosphorus nutrient management.