Abstract
In Kenya, soil acidity is a major contributor to declining soil fertility and 20% of the soils are acidic and are considered to be of low fertility. Most farmers are unaware of the benefits of liming acid soils. A study was carried out during the 2005 and 2006 long rain seasons at Kuinet in Uasin Gishu District of the Rift Valley Province in Kenya to delineate the effects of Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) and agricultural lime as liming materials on yields of soybeans intercropped with maize. The maize responded to application of soil amendment materials for the first season with the diammonium phosphate and lime (DAPL) treatment giving the highest maize yields of 6.19 t ha–1 compared to the control which gave 1.36 t ha–1. Soybean yields were low in the first season with the DAPL treatment and control treatment giving yields of 0.32 and 0.14 t ha–1, respectively. This, however, changed significantly after the variety was changed in the second season, with yields going up to 0.68 t ha–1 for the triple superphosphate and lime (TSPL) treatment. From the study, it was concluded that there is potential for growing soybean in Uasin Gishu District of Kenya. However, a study and/or research is recommended to screen and identify a suitable variety for increased soybean yields in this district.
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
References
Buresh RJ, Smithson PC, Hellums DT (1997) Building soil P in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Buresh RJ, Sanchez. PA (eds) Replenishing soil fertility in Africa. SSSA special publication 51 SSSA and ASA, Madison, WI, pp 111–149
Kanyanjua SM, Ireri L, Wambua S, Nandwa SM (2002) KARI technical note No. 11; acidic soils in Kenya: constraints and remedial options. KARI headquarters, Nairobi
Landon RJ (ed) (1984) Booker tropical soil manual: a handbook for soil survey and agricultural land evaluation in the tropics and subtropics. Longman Group UK, Essex, pp 137–140
Ndung’u KW, Okalebo JR, Othieno CO, Kifuko MN, Kipkoech AK, Kimenye LN (2006) Residual effectiveness of Minjingu phosphate rock and fallow biomass on crop yields and financial returns in western Kenya. Exp Agric 42:323–336
Nekesa AO (2007) Effect of Minjingu Phosphate Rock and agricultural lime in relation to maize, groundnut and soybean yields on acid soils of western Kenya. MPhil thesis, Department of Soil Science, Moi University, Eldoret
Nekesa PO, Maritim HK, Okalebo JR, Woomer PL (1999) Economic analysis of maize bean production using a soil fertility replenishment product (PREP-PAC) in western Kenya. Afr Crop Sci J 7:157–163
Obura PA, Okalebo JR, Othieno CO, Woomer PL (2001) Effect of Prep-Pac product on maize-soybean intercrop in the acid soils of western Kenya. Afr Crop Sci Proc 5:889–896
Okalebo JR, Gathua KW, Woomer PL (2002) Laboratory methods of soil and plant analysis: a working manual, 2nd edn. TSBF-CIAT and SACRED Africa, Nairobi
Republic of Kenya (1997) Uasin Gishu district development plan (1997–2001) office of the vice-president and minister of planning and national development. Government Printer, Nairobi
Riaz MN (1999) Soybeans and functional foods. Cereal Foods World 44(2):88–92
Rienke N, Joke N (2002) Cultivation of soya and other legumes. Agromisa Foundation, Wageningen
Tungani JO, Mukhwana EJ, Woomer PL (2002) MBILI is Number 1: a handbook for innovative maize-legume intercropping. SACRED Africa, Bungoma, 20pp
Acknowledgements
We are greatly indebted to RUFORUM for funding this study as well as giving us an opportunity to explore our areas of study interest. Our most appreciation goes to the RUFORUM Coordinator, Prof. Adipala Ekwamu, and the Programme Assistant, Dr. Patricia Masanganise who took time to come and visit our experimental sites. We would like to acknowledge all the participating collaborators and Moi University as a whole for appreciating our work. Specific thanks go to our field and laboratory technicians, Ruth Njoroge, Scholastica Mutua and David Ndung’u, our Project Accountant, Mr. John Emongole, and our Project Secretary, Ms. Mary Nancy Wairimu, who have enabled the completion of this study research in various ways. To all we say, “May God add where you took.”
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Nekesa, A., Okalebo, J., Othieno, C., Thuita, M., Bationo, A., Waswa, B. (2011). The Potential of Increased Maize and Soybean Production in Uasin Gishu District, Kenya, Resulting from Soil Acidity Amendment Using Minjingu Phosphate Rock and Agricultural Lime. In: Bationo, A., Waswa, B., Okeyo, J., Maina, F., Kihara, J. (eds) Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_34
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_34
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-2541-8
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-2543-2
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)