Management practices and their effect on nutrient status of farmyard manure in West Pokot District of Kenya
2002
Wanjekeche, E.(KARI-National Agricultural Reseach Centre, Kitale, Kenya) | Mwangi, T.J.(KARI-National Agricultural Reseach Centre, Kitale, Kenya) | Powon, P.(KARI-National Agricultural Reseach Centre, Kitale, Kenya) | Khaemba, J.(Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Kapenguria, Kenya)
Farmers in this area use farmyard manure (FYM) as a cheaper alternative to the costly inorganic fertilisers. On farm trials carried out in the area using the recommended rate of FYM (10 t ha"l) for maize production and the poor performance of farmers' maize crop indicated low crop yield responses to the FYM. This situation could have been caused by the use of poor quality FYM or application of FYM rates below the recommended ones. In order to establish the quality of farmers' FYM and the methods they used to apply it in the field, a survey was carried out in 1998 and 1999 at Cheptuya village to determine the current FYM management practices in the area. The study also aimed at identifying opportunities for improvement of manure quality and efficiency of utilization in order to enhance crop production. The survey established that cattle were kept under extensive grazing on poor natural pastures. Manure was collected and heaped mostly on the surface. A few farmers stored the manure in pits. Crop residues were not used in bomas to trap nutrients. Broadcasting was the main FYM application method because it saved on labour. Analysis of the nutrient composition of the FYM showed that on average, the levels of the major elements, P, K and organic carbon were, 170 mg kg"1 soil, 15 mg kg"1 soil and 4.3%, respectively.
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