Abstract
<p>High cost of inorganic fertilizers and lime has precluded their use by smallholder farmers to remedy the problem of soil acidity and infertility in Kenya. To address the problem, we tested a precision technique referred to as micro-dosing, which involves application of small, affordable quantities of inorganic inputs on an acid soil in Busia County, Kenya. Experimental treatments were N-fertilizer (0 and 37.5 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup>), P-fertilizer (0 and 13 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup>) and lime (0, 0.77 and 1.55 tons lime ha<sup>-1</sup>). 37.5 kg N and 13 kg P ha<sup>-1 </sup>are 50% of the recommended fertilizer rates for maize production in Kenya while 0.77 and 1.55 tons lime ha<sup>-1</sup> are 25 and 50% of the actual requirement. Soil chemical changes, maize grain yield and nutrient recovery were determined. Lime and P-fertilizer significantly affected only the top-soil pH, Ca, Mg and available P, while the effects of N-fertilizer were evident on both top- and sub-soil N likely due to its faster mobility than P and lime. Grain P-fertilizer recovery efficiencies were 14 and 16-27% due to 13 kg P and 13 kg P + 0.77-1.55 tons lime ha<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. N-fertilizer recovery efficiencies were 37 and 42-45% due to 37.5 kg N and 37.5 kg N + 0.77-1.55 tons lime ha<sup>-1</sup>, respectively. Fertilizers applied to supply 37.5 kg N, 13 kg P and 0.77-1.55 tons lime ha<sup>-1 </sup>increased grain yield above the control by 134, 39 and 12-22%, respectively, therefore micro-dosing of these inputs can increase maize production on Kenyan acid soils.</p>
Highlights
Agricultural production in the high rainfall areas of Kenya is constrained by soil acidity and soil fertility depletion (Kanyanjua et al, 2002)
High cost of inorganic fertilizers and lime has precluded their use by smallholder farmers to remedy the problem of soil acidity and infertility in Kenya
Many soil fertility management technologies have been attempted. These ranges from sole use of inorganic fertilizers to sole use of organic inputs (Sanginga & Woomer, 2009; Okalebo et al, 2006) but these approaches have several drawbacks which have hindered their adoption by smallholder farmers in Kenya
Summary
Agricultural production in the high rainfall areas of Kenya is constrained by soil acidity and soil fertility depletion (Kanyanjua et al, 2002). The yields of maize, which is the staple food in these regions, are very low, averaging less than 1 ton ha-1 against a potential of 4 tons ha-1. To mitigate these constraints, many soil fertility management technologies have been attempted. Many soil fertility management technologies have been attempted These ranges from sole use of inorganic fertilizers to sole use of organic inputs (Sanginga & Woomer, 2009; Okalebo et al, 2006) but these approaches have several drawbacks which have hindered their adoption by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Use of fertilizers remains the key to increasing food productivity in Africa (Quinones et al, 1997)
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