Abstract
Ferralsol and Acrisol soil types important for maize production in Western Kenya have low pH, phosphorus (P) and organic matter plus high levels of Al and Fe oxides that fix P. Minjingu rock phosphate (MRP), lime and green manure (Tithonia) that are cheap and locally available are recommended for use. The low solubility of MRP when directly applied and unavailability of adequate organic materials limits their use. An experiment was carried out in farmers’ field to determine the interactive effect of combining MRP and Tithonia or lime in a degraded patch of Ferralsol soil in Western Kenya. The treatments; ±MRP, ±lime, ±Tithonia, +Triple superphosphate (TSP) and their combinations were applied to maize in (4 ×5) m2 plots. The field layout was in a completely randomized block design replicated four times. Plant height (eight weeks after emergence) and leaf number showed a significant interactive effect between: TSP × Tithonia (P ≤ 0.0001), TSP × Lime (P ≤ 0.001), MRP × Tithonia (P ≤ 0.05), Tithonia × TSP × Lime (P ≤ 0.005). Leaf area index (m2 leaf m-2) was similarly was significantly affected by TSP (P ≤ 0.0001), lime (P ≤ 0.05), lime × TSP (P ≤ 0.0002) and TSP × Tithonia (P ≤ 0.0001) and lime × Tithonia × TSP (P ≤ 0.05). The significant treatments also affected were similarly observed in grain yield (t/ha) as TSP (2.5 t/ha), MRP (1.0 t/ha), lime × TSP (2.5 t/ha), TSP × Tithonia (2.9 t ha-1), Tithonia × TSP × lime (2.4). Hence combining TSP or MRP with Tithonia may be used to alleviate multiple problems in the degraded patches of Ferralsols
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Allousch G.A. 2003. Dissolution and effectiveness of phosphate rock in acidic soil amended with cattle manure. Plant and Soil 251:37–46.
Anderson J.M. and Ingram J.S. 1993. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility. A handbook of methods. CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
Braun A.R., Smaling E.M.A., Muchugu E.I., Shepherd K.D. and Corbett J.D. 1997. Maintenance and improvement of soil productivity in Highlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Uganda. An inventory of spatial and non-spatial surveys and research data on natural resources and land productivity (African Highlands Initiative Technical Report No. 6). International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, Nairobi, Kenya.
Brouwer J. and Bouma J. 1997. Soil and crop growth variability in the Sahel: Highlights of research (1990-1995) at ICRISAT Sahelian center. Information bulletin No. 49. Icrisat, Andhra Pradesh, India.
de Jager A., Onduru, M. van Wijk S., Vlaming, J. and Gachini G.N. 2001. Assessing sustainability of low-external –input farm management systems with the nutrient monitoring approach: a case study in Kenya. Agric Syst. 69: 99–108.
Defoer T., Kante D.T., Hilhorst T. and Groote H.O. 1996. Towards more sustainable soil fertility management. ODI-AgREN Network paper No.63.
FAO 1998. World Reference Base for Soil resources. World Soil Resources Report No. 84. FAO Rome, Italy.
FAO 1977. Guidelines for soil profile Descriptions. Food and Agriculture organization of United Nations Rome.
Gachengo C.N., Palm C.A., Jama B. and Othieno C. 1999. Tithonia and Senna green manure and inorganic fertilizers as phosphorus sources for maize in W. Kenya. Agroforestry Syst. 44: 21–36.
Gandah M., Bouma J. Brouwer J. Hiernaux P. and van Duivenbooden N. 2003. Strategies to optimize allocation of limited nutrients to sandy soils of the Sahel: a case study from Niger, West Africa. Agric Ecos. and Envir. 94: 311–319.
Government of Kenya (GoK). Ministry of Finance and Planning (2001). The 1999 population and housing census: Counting our people for development Vol. 1 Ministry of Finance and Planning , Nairobi.
Groenenboom M. and Drift M. 1991. Soil survey in Western Kenya. A semi-detailed soil survey and qualitative land evaluation for South Kabras location (Kakamega district). University of Utrecht, Faculty of Geographical Sciences Utrecht, Belgium.
Hassan R.M., Muriithi F. and Kamau G. 1998. Determinants of fertilizer use and the gap between farmers maize yields and potential yields in Kenya pp. 137–168. In:Hassan R.M. (Ed) Maize technology development and transfer- A GIS application for research planning in Kenya.: CAB International, Wallingford, UK.
He Z.L., Baligar V.C., Martens D.C., Ritchey K.D. and Kemper W.D. 1996. Factors affecting phosphate Rock dissolution in acid soil amended with liming materials and cellulose. Soil Sci. Soc Am. J 60: 1596–1601
Hue N.V. 1990. Interactions of Ca(H2PO4)2 applied to an Oxisol and previous sludge amendment: soil and crop response. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant. Anal. 21: 61–73.
Jama B., Palm C.A., Buresh R.J., Niang A.I., Gachengo C. and Nziguheba G. 2000. Tithonia as a green manure for soil fertility improvement in Western Kenya: A review. Agrofor. Syst. 49: 201–221.
Kanyanjua S.M., Ireri L., Wambua S and Nandwa S.M. 2002. Acidic soils in Kenya: constraints and remedial options. KARI technical Note No. 11 of June 2002.
Kapkiyai J.J., Karanja N.K., Qureish J.N., Smithson P.C. and Woomer P.L. 1999. Soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics in a Kenyan Nitisol under long-term fertilizer and organic input management. Soil Biol and Biochem. 31:1773–1782.
KARI (Kenya Agricultural research Institute), 1995. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. New fertilizer recommendations for small-scale farmers in Kenya. Information Bulletin No. 12.
Kpomblekou-A. and Tabatabai M.A. 2003. Effects of low molecular weight organic acids on phosphorous release and phytoavaillability of phosphorus in phosphate rocks added to soils. Agric. Ecosys. and Environ 100(2/3): 275–284.
Kwabiah A.B., Stoskopf N.C, Palm C.A. and Voroney R.P 2003. Soil P availability as affected by the chemical composition of plant materials: implications for P-limiting agriculture in tropical Africa. Agric Eco. and Env. 100: 53–61.
Lok R. (2001). A better understanding of traditional homegardens through the use of locally defined management zones. Indigenous Knowledge Development Monitor 9: 14–19.
Murage, E.W., Karanja N.K., Smithson P.C. and Woomer P.L 2000. Diagnostic indicators of soil quality in productive and non-productive smallholder fields of Kenya’s Central highlands. Agric. Ecosy. and Environ. 79: 1–8.
Nziguheba G., Merckx R., Palm C.A. and Muto P. 2002. Combining Tithonia diversifolia and fertilizer for maize production in a phosphorus deficient soil in Kenya. Agrofor. Syst. 55(3): 165–174.
Nziguheba G., Palm C.A., Buresh R.J. and Smithson P.C. 1998. Soil phosphorus fractions and adsorption as affected by organic and inorganic sources. Plant and Soil 198: 159–168.
Okalebo J.R., Gathua K.W. and Woomer P.L. 1993. Laboratory methods of soil and plant analysis. A working manual. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF), EPZ Printer, Nairobi Kenya.
Palm C.A., Myers R.J.K. and Nandwa S.M. 1997. Combined use of organic and inorganic Nutrient sources for soil fertility maintenance. In: Replenishing Soil fertility in Africa. SSSA Special publication No. 51.
Plenet’ D. Mollier A. and Pellerin S. 2000. Growth analysis of maize field crops under phosphorus deficiency: II. Radiation-use efficiency biomass accumulation and yield component. Plant and Soil 224: 259–272.
Sanchez P.A. and Leakey R.R. 1999. Land use transformation in Africa: Three determinants for balancing food security with Natural resource utilization. Euro. J. of Agron 7: 1–9.
Smaling, E.M.A., Stoorvogel J. and Windmeijer P 1993. Calculating soil balances in Africa at different scales: II-District scale Fertilizer Research 35: 237–250.
Smaling E.M.A. and Braun A. 1996. Soil fertility research in sub-Saharan Africa: new dimensions new challenges. Comm. Soil Sc. Plant Analy 27: 365–386.
Tabu. I.M. 2003. Soil fertility niches, farmer perception and maize yield: A case for improved crop yield in Kabras Division of Western Kenya. Doctor of Philosophy Thesis. Department of Agronomy, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya.
Uexkull H.R. von 1986. Efficient fertilizer use in acid upland soil of the humid tropics. FAO Fertilizer and Plant nutrition Bulletin 10.
Vanlauwe B., Diels J., Sanginga N., Carsky R.J., Deckers J. and Merckx R. 2000. Utilization or rock phosphate by crops on a crop representative toposequence in a Northern Guinea Savanna zone of Nigeria: response by maize to previous herbaceous legume cropping and rock phosphate treatments. Soil Biol. and Bioch. 32: 2079–2090.
Woomer P.L., Okalebo J.R., Maritim H.K., Obura P.A., Mwaura F.M., Nekesa P. and Mukhwana E.J. 2003. PREP-PAC: a nutrient replenishment product designed for smallholder s in Western Kenya. Agric Ecos. and Envir 100: 295–303.
Woomer P.L., Bekunda M.A., Karanja N.K., Moorehouse T. and Okalebo J.R 1998. Agricultural resource management by smallholder farmers in East Africa. Nature and resources 34 (4): 22–33.
Woortman R.L., Brouwer J., Albersen P.J. 2003. Characterization of spatial soil variability and its effect on millet yield on Sudano-Sahelian cover sands in S.W. Niger. Geoderma (In press).
Zapata F. and Roy R.N. 2004. Use of phosphate rocks for sustainable Agriculture. In FAO Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition Bulletin 13. FAO Rome, Italy.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer
About this paper
Cite this paper
Tabu, I., Bationo, A., Obura, R., Masinde, J. (2007). Effect of Rock Phosphate, Lime and Green Manure on Growth and Yield of Maize in a Non Productive Niche of a Rhodic Ferralsol in Farmer’s Fields. In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Kihara, J., Kimetu, J. (eds) Advances in Integrated Soil Fertility Management in sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_42
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5760-1_42
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5759-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5760-1
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)