Opportunities for Coping with Climate Change and V

Authors: L W Ngugi K P C Rao A Oyoo K Kwena

Publish Date: 2015

Volume: , Issue: , Pages: 149-157

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Abstract

Scenario analysis using data generated from APSIM model was conducted to investigate the effect of soil and water conservation practices tied ridges and mulching on grain yield of improved maize varieties Katumani and Makueni generated with and without N fertilizers under below normal 250 mm normal ≥250  350 mm and above normal seasons ≥350 mm in two sites Katumani and Makindu in Machakos and Makueni counties Eastern Kenya Results indicate that the yields were significant 001 under the different seasons and treatments with the magnitude of the yields response varied Highest yields in Katumani 3370 kg/ha were obtained during below normal seasons and when both fertilizer and tied ridges were used In Makindu however under all treatments highest yields were obtained during above normal seasons with 3708 kg/ha yield when 40 kg N/ha fertilizer was applied Lowest yields on the other hand were obtained during normal seasons in both sites with 507 kg/ha in Katumani and 552 kg/ha under tied ridges and mulching + fertilizers in Makindu Compared with farmers practice control the yield increment obtained was 4 kg/ha 06  and 5 kg/ha 07  in Katumani 32 kg/ha 46  and 33 kg/ha 47  in Makindu under mulching and tied ridges respectively during below normal seasons otherwise the yield decreased during normal and above normal seasons with up to 19  in Makindu when tied ridges was practised Fertilization increased the yields of maize by as high as 2552 kg/ha 433  and 2319 kg/ha 166  in Katumani and Makindu respectively during above normal seasons However during normal seasons there was yield decrease in Makindu by 42  When both fertilization and soil and water conservation practices was done yield increase was 2335 kg/ha 456  and 2382 kg/ha 465  in Katumani during normal seasons under mulching +40 kg N/ha and tied ridges +40 kg N/ha respectively In Makindu yields declined during normal seasons however increase was by 2229 kg/ha 160  and 2108 kg/ha 152  during above normal seasons under mulching +40 kg N/ha and tied ridges +40 kg N/ha respectively The results indicate that the use of fertilizers and soil and water conservation are indispensable for ensuring food security in semiarids where rainfall is very variable

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