Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop in western Kenya, mostly grown by smallholder farmers in complex and risky cropping systems. Trends in population growth in the country indicate that the demand for maize is projected to increase 3-4% annually. Production is however hampered by the predominance of fragile ecosystems (acidic soils), low soil fertility and low use of chemical inputs. The average grain yield is less than 1.0 t ha-1 instead of a reachable 5.0 t ha-1, leading to vicious cycle of food insecurity. An on-farm experiment was conducted in two soil types (Alfisols and Ultisols) in Kakamega, western Kenya, between February and September 2007 to test effects of various organic inputs (Farmyard manure, Tithonia biomass and Desmodium cover crop) in combination with inorganic fertilizers (N, P, K, Mg, B and Zn) on yield of maize. The design was Randomized Complete Block Design, replicated 5 times and the data was subjected to ANOVA and DMRT tests. Soil analysis before planting indicated that pH was 5.0 and 5.4 in Alfisols and Ultisols, respectively. Both soils were deficient in N and P but adequate in exchangeable bases (K, Ca and Mg). Maize grain yield was higher in Ultisols compared to Alfisols. In Alfisols, organic inputs in combination with 30 kg N ha-1 gave maize grain yield improvement of nearly 100% over farmer’s practice (non improved maize variety, wider plant spacing, inorganic fertilizer applied at the rate of 20 N + 20 P ha-1, one weeding). When inorganic fertilizer (60 kg N + 60 kg P ha-1) was applied to maize/banana intercrop, maize yield increased by about 40%. In contrast, in Ultisols, organic inputs increased maize grain yield by between 85% and 115%, while maize/banana intercrop (plus 60 kg N + 60 kg P ha-1) increased maize grain yield by only 4% over the farmer’s practice. Banana intercrop reduced maize population resulting in low maize grain and stover yield. Use of either farmyard manure, tithonia biomass or desmonium cover crop in combination with 30 kg of N ha-1 (from inorganic source) can enhance maize production among smallholder farmers in acidic soils who ordinarily cannot afford to purchase adequate quantities of inorganic fertilizers.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain yield was higher in Ultisols than Alfisols.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Maize grain yield was higher in Ultisols compared to Alfisols.”
Claim · model-written summary
Organic inputs with 30 kg N ha-1 improved maize grain yield nearly 100% over farmer practice in Alfisols.
- Treatment
- organic inputs in combination with 30 kg N ha-1e0
- Outcome
- maize grain yielde0
- Direction
- improvemente0
- Value
- nearly 100%e0
- Comparator
- farmer’s practicee0
- Setting
- Alfisolse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In Alfisols, organic inputs in combination with 30 kg N ha-1 gave maize grain yield improvement of nearly 100% over farmer’s practice”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertilizer in a maize/banana intercrop increased maize yield about 40%.
- Treatment
- inorganic fertilizer (60 kg N + 60 kg P ha-1)e0
- Outcome
- maize yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- about 40%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“When inorganic fertilizer (60 kg N + 60 kg P ha-1) was applied to maize/banana intercrop, maize yield increased by about 40%”
Claim · model-written summary
Organic inputs increased maize grain yield by 85% to 115% in Ultisols.
- Treatment
- organic inputse0
- Outcome
- maize grain yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- between 85% and 115%e0
- Setting
- Ultisolse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“in Ultisols, organic inputs increased maize grain yield by between 85% and 115%”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize/banana intercrop with fertilizer increased maize grain yield 4% over farmer practice in Ultisols.
- Treatment
- maize/banana intercrop (plus 60 kg N + 60 kg P ha-1)e0
- Outcome
- maize grain yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- only 4%e0
- Comparator
- farmer’s practicee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“maize/banana intercrop (plus 60 kg N + 60 kg P ha-1) increased maize grain yield by only 4% over the farmer’s practice”
Claim · model-written summary
Banana intercrop reduced maize population and grain and stover yield.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana intercrop reduced maize population resulting in low maize grain and stover yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Banana intercrop resulted in low maize grain and stover yield.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana intercrop reduced maize population resulting in low maize grain and stover yield”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend organic inputs with 30 kg N ha-1 to enhance maize production in acidic soils.
- Treatment
- farmyard manure, tithonia biomass or desmonium cover crop in combination with 30 kg of N ha-1e0
- Outcome
- enhance maize productione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Use of either farmyard manure, tithonia biomass or desmonium cover crop in combination with 30 kg of N ha-1 (from inorganic source) can enhance maize production among smallholder farmers in acidic soils”
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