Evaluation of the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on maize and traditional vegetable yields in Kisii highlands
2000
Okoko, E.NK.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi (Kenya). National Agricultural Research Laboratories) | Makini, F.(KARI-Rgional Reseach Kisii, Kenya) | Mureithi, J.G.(Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Nairobi (Kenya). National Agricultural Research Laboratories)
A major problem facing resource poor small-scale farmers in producing maize and traditional vegetables is decline in soil fertility. During participatory rural appraisal (PRA) exercises undertaken in Bogetaorio village, farmers attributed low yields of maize and traditional vegetables to declining soil fertility as a result of continuous cropping, burning of crop residues and soil erosion. The PRA further showed that farmers in the region applied low quantities of organic and inorganic fertilizers because of their high costs. This study was therefore started during short rains of 1995 to address the problem of low crop production by improving soil fertility. The objectives of this study were; 1) to determine the effect of both organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield of maize and traditional vegetables; 2) to determine low cost and affordable fertilizer recommendations. The treatments varied according to test crops. Results obtained in this study indicated that application of organic/inorganic fertilizer treatment combinations increased soil nutrient status over the experimental period substantially. The level of soil P, Ca, and K were increased by over 70%. The fertilizer treatment gave me recommended ot morganic P and N fertilizers and gave higher ~e1ds than FYM/compost treatments alone. In 1998, the combination treatments of 10 t ha-l compost + 15 kg PzOs ha-l + 15 kg N ha-l gave a maize yield of 7.8 t ha-\\ which was significantly higher (p=:0.05) than from the other treatments and it was within the range of potential maize yield (7.2-9.0 t ha-l) in the region. The fertilizer treatment combinations also increased yield of traditional vegetables substantially compared to FYM applied alone. Thus, a combination of organic and reduced rates of inorganic fertilizers may be a promising low cost option to the use of the recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer for maize and vegetable production
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