Maize yield response to potassium and lime application at Bungoma and Trans Nzoia Counties, Western Kenya
Paper Details
Maize yield response to potassium and lime application at Bungoma and Trans Nzoia Counties, Western Kenya
Abstract
Maize is the most important staple food in Kenya, and is grown across a wide range of agro-ecological zones, accounting for about 40 present of daily calories. A major constraint in maize production in Kenya is low and declining soil fertility. Nutrient input and output studies on farmlands across Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa show an alarming negative balance leading to widespread land degradation. This study sought to increase maize yield through application of potassium (K) and lime in western Kenya. The studies were conducted at Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties, considered as the breadbasket region for the country. The objectives were to establish maize responses to K fertilization and lime application. The field studies evaluated maize response to different rates of potash fertilizer (0 – 200 K2Okg/ha) in order to establish the K requirement for maximum/optimum crop yields. Experimental design was a split plot arranged in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times. The lime and no lime were assigned to the main plots while the K levels were assigned to the sub-plots. There were three farms in Trans Nzoia county, and two farms in Bungoma county. At Bungoma, liming increased maize stover yields by 70% from 2.4 to 4.3 tons/ha. Bungoma, maize grain yields ranged from 2.2 to 4.5 tons/ha in Mabanga and 3.6-6.2 tons/ha. The optimal response to K at 40kg K2O/ha at Ndengelwa and 80kg/ha at Mabanga sites. In Trans Nzoia, liming treatment stratum was significantly different at 5% level and increased stover yields by 17%. At the 40 K2Okg/ha application, liming increased stover yields by 50% (6.3-9.5 tons/ha), whilst under no liming, 40kg K2O /ha application increased the stover yields by 30% (5.4-6.9 tons/ha). Our work confirms that soils in western Kenya are acidic and have low levels of K. These soils therefore require liming and NPK fertilization for optimal maize production and food security.
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SK. Kimani, EW. Gikonyo, DM. Kamau, LW. Mbuthia (2023), Maize yield response to potassium and lime application at Bungoma and Trans Nzoia Counties, Western Kenya; IJAAR, V23, N2, August, P11-19
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