Potential of Tephrosia vogelii Hook F. and Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) A. Gray short duration fallows for improving the productivity of maize in Western Kenya
2000
Rutunga, Venant | Dr. Karanja, Nancy K. (supervisor) | Dr. Gachene, Charles K. K. (supervisor) | Dr. Palm, Cheryl A. | Dr. Coe, Richard
Earlier studies showed beneficial effect of 1 to 3 years-improved fallows on maize production compared to the natural fallow. This period however is still too long for small-scale farmers who must use the land to produce food at least once a year. In fallow systems the rotational effect and the effect of above ground biomass on maize yield have not yet been studied separately. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Tephrosia vogelii and Tithonia diversifolia short duration fallows in improving soil fertility and maize yield when compared to the natural fallow and continuous maize crop with or without fertilizers. Two cycles of Tephrosia, Tithonia and natural vegetation six-month fallows alternating with two consecutive maize crops were grown at Maseno, in Western Kenya on well-drained deep clay soils low in available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). At the fallow cutting time, the biomass produced and nutrient accumulated were quantified and decomposition patterns determined. The fallow biomass were applied to the maize crop as fertilizer input and each plot was then split into two for 0 and 20 kg inorganic P addition. Soil samples were taken at the beginning and the end of each fallow and crop season. The final chapters of this study present the detailed materials and methods used, the results, discussion and conclusion in relation to various experiments, as well as overall an overall discussion and conclusion derived from the study, respectively.
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