About the RUFORUM 2010 Biennal Conference
"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholders in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Natural Resource Management"
Effects of lime and phosphorus fertilizer on maize performance in acid soils of western Kenya
Abstract:
Western Kenya continues to experience food insecurity due to
increasing soil acidity and consequent phosphorus deficiencies
with 0.9 million hectares of land having pH < 5.5. Liming is one
of the interventions recommended to ameliorate such soils. Field
trials were conducted in Siaya and North Kakamega districts
to evaluate and compare direct and residual effects of
agricultural lime and Mavuno fertilizers on soil properties and
maize performance. Lime was obtained from two Kenyan
sources, Homa Hills and Athi River mining companies and
Tanzania (Minjingu Phosphate Rock). Preliminary results show
that the highest plant height was obtained from Mavuno fertilizer
followed closely by agricultural lime from Homa Hills. There is
need to determine the properties of the lime from the different
sources in order to recommend that with highest potential of
improving maize yield in the region.
Le Kenya occidental continue à vivre l’insécurité alimentaire
due à l’acidité croissante du sol et aux insuffisances
conséquentes de phosphore avec 0.9 million d’hectares de terre
ayant un pH < 5.5. L’application de la chaux est l’une des
interventions recommandées pour améliorer de tels sols. Des
essais pratiques ont été conduits dans les districts de Siaya et
du nord de Kakamega pour évaluer et comparer des effets
directs et résiduels sur les propriétés du sol et la performance
du maïs due à l’usage de l’engrais calcique et des engrais de
Mavuno. La chaux a été obtenue à partir de deux sources
Kenyanes à savoir les collines de Homa et les compagnies
d’exploitation minières du fleuve d’Athi et aussi à partir de la
Tanzanie (phosphate naturel de Minjingu). Les résultats
préliminaires prouvent que la taille la plus élevée des plantes a
été obtenue à partir de l’engrais de Mavuno suivi de près par
l’engrais calcique des collines de Homa. Il y a le besoin de
déterminer les propriétés de la chaux des différentes sources afin de recommander son usage pour un potentiel le plus élevé
d’amélioration du rendement de maïs dans la région.
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
703-707
Notes:
