Assessment of technology options addressing agricultural production constraints in Western Kenya

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.author Wambua, Stephen
dc.contributor.author Mtei, Kelvin M.
dc.contributor.author Ngome, Ajebesone F.
dc.contributor.author Becker, Mathias
dc.date.accessioned 2016-03-03T08:06:20Z
dc.date.available 2016-03-03T08:06:20Z
dc.date.issued 2013
dc.identifier.citation Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences; Vol. 3 (3), pp. 222-234, March 2013 en_US
dc.identifier.issn 2276-7770
dc.identifier.uri http://www.gjournals.org/GJAS/GJAS%20Pdf/2013/March/Mtei%20et%20al.pdf
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1959
dc.description.abstract Poor soil fertility and weed infestation are among major constraints facing agricultural production in Western Kenya. Recommended technologies differ in resource requirement and their effectiveness are seasonal site-specific. Onfarm experiments were conducted during 2008/09 cropping seasons on two soil types of western Kenya using maize as a test crop. Seven technology options were assessed on agronomic performance, resource requirement, and economic returns. Maize grain yield differed between cropping seasons with generally higher yields during long rainy season, and across soil types with organic manure-based options performing better on Ultisol than on Alfisol. Response of soil parameters reflected the amount of added nutrients and soil type with strongest effect of added N on Alfisol and of added P on Ultisol. All options significantly reduced weed biomass in the maize fields in the long (>90%) than in the short rainy seasons (>50%). Green manure-based option required more labour while mineral fertilizer-based options required largest capital. The economic net-benefit varied between -112 and +892 € ha-1 with highest values in organic manure-based options during short rainy season and in mineral fertilizer-based options during long rainy season. This example illustrates the need to define site-specific technology evaluation for successful targeting of technology options. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.subject Alfisol en_US
dc.subject economic feasibility en_US
dc.subject organic manure en_US
dc.subject seed priming en_US
dc.subject site-specific technology Ultisol en_US
dc.title Assessment of technology options addressing agricultural production constraints in Western Kenya en_US
dc.type Article en_US


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record

Search Dspace


Browse

My Account