• Contact Us
    • Send Feedback
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    Whole Repository
    CollectionsIssue DateRegionCountryHubAffiliationAuthorsTitlesSubject
    This Sub-collection
    Issue DateRegionCountryHubAffiliationAuthorsTitlesSubject

    My Account

    Login

    Welcome to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Research Repository

    What would you like to view today?

    Critical slope length for soil loss mitigation in maize-bean cropping systems in SW Kenya

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Journal Article (1.727Mb)
    Date
    2020
    Author
    Koomson, E.
    Muoni, T.
    Marohn, C.
    Nziguheba, G.
    Öborn, I.
    Cadisch, G.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Review Status
    Peer Review
    Target Audience
    Scientists
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract/Description
    Soil erosion and land fragmentation threaten agricultural production of sub-Saharan African highlands. At our study site in Western Kenya, farm size is mostly < 2 ha, laid out in narrow strips in slope direction and ploughed downhill. Soil conservation measures like hedgerows and green manures can reduce effective slope length for erosion, but compete with crops for space and labour. Knowledge of critical slope length can minimise interventions and trade–offs. Hence, a maize–bean intercrop (MzBn) slope length trial on 20, 60 and 84 m long plots, replicated twice on three farms was carried out in Rongo, Migori County, during one rainy season. Soil loss from 84 m slope length (SL) plots was 250 % higher than from 60 m and 710% higher than from 20 m plots, while soil loss from 20 and 60 m plots did not differ (p < 0.05). Conversely, runoff was lower on the 84 m than on the 60 m (p < 0.05) or the 20 m SL (p < 0.05). Across all three farms slope gradient and length had highest explanatory power to predict soil loss. At individual farm level, under similar slope and soil texture, slope length and profile curvature were most influential. Regarding results of the slope length experiments, food crop plot lengths < 50 m appear essential considering soil loss, sediment load, and soil loss to yield ratio under the given rainfall, soil and slope (10–14%) conditions. Our results call for designing integrating slope length options and cropping systems for effective soil conservation. We recommend planting Mucuna and Calliandra–hedgerows as buffer strips below the critical slope length, and legume cash crops and maize uphill. Such approaches are critical against the backdrop of land fragmentation and labour limitation to sustainably maximise food production from the available land area in the region.
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2020.e00311
    Multi standard citation
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/6976
    IITA Authors ORCID
    Carsten Marohnhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2823-7897
    Generose Nziguhebahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4227-2242
    Ingrid Obornhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3847-6082
    Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2020.e00311
    Research Themes
    Natural Resource Management
    IITA Subjects
    Agronomy; Cowpea; Crop Systems; Farm Management; Farming Systems; Grain Legumes; Integrated Soil Fertility Management; Maize; Natural Resource Management; Plant Breeding; Plant Production; Soil Fertility
    Agrovoc Terms
    Maize; Beans; Intercropping; Cropping Systems; Erosion; Legumes; Acrisols; Soil Loss; Slope Orientation; Exposition; Soil Conservation
    Regions
    Africa; East Africa
    Countries
    Kenya
    Hubs
    Central Africa Hub
    Journals
    Geoderma Regional
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles4835
    copyright © 2019  IITASpace. All rights reserved.
    IITA | Open Access Repository