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On-farm experimentation on conservation agriculture in maize-legume based cropping systems in Kenya: Water use efficiency and economic impacts

dc.contributor.authorMicheni, A.N.
dc.contributor.authorKanampiu, F.
dc.contributor.authorKitonyo, O.
dc.contributor.authorMburu, D.M.
dc.contributor.authorMugai, E.N.
dc.contributor.authorMakumbi, Dan
dc.contributor.authorKassie, M.
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-04T10:57:22Z
dc.date.available2019-12-04T10:57:22Z
dc.date.issued2015-02-11
dc.identifier.citationMicheni, A., Kanampiu, F., Kitonyo, O., Mburu, D., Mugai, E., Makumbi, D. and Kassie, M. 2015. On-farm experimentation on conservation agriculture in maize-legume based cropping systems in Kenya: Water use efficiency and economic impacts. Experimental Agriculture
dc.identifier.issn0014-4797
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/715
dc.description.abstractConservation agriculture (CA) is a promising technology for controlling soil degradation, mitigating drought, increasing crop yield and reducing production costs. We hypothesized that adopting CA system would improve system productivity and efficiency, hence resulting in higher profits. To test the hypothesis, we designed a study to evaluate water use efficiency (WUE) and the economic benefits (yield and gross margins) of CA in the upper and lower midlands agro-ecological zones of eastern Kenya. Four tillage treatments, including farmers’ practice (residues removed), conventional tillage (residues removed) and two CA practices with residue retention (zero tillage and furrow–ridge), were laid out in 22 farmers’ fields where each farm was treated as a replicate. The results are based on four consecutive seasons farmer–researcher managed trials during the period 2010 and 2012. CA significantly improved crop yields after the first season of experimentation. Joint use of zero tillage and furrow–ridge provided higher WUE and yield advantage (25–34%) in the third and fourth seasons compared to the conventional practices. The lower midlands zone gave higher WUE values, which can be explained by the effects of water harvesting and retention for longer period on CA treatments. CA practices have increased income on average by 12% resulted from labour cost reduction and yield increment. Weeding costs for conventional tillage were USD 88 ha−1 compared to USD 24 ha−1 for herbicide application under CA. Practicing CA will certainly increase crop yields, WUE, generate more revenue and diversify risks during poor seasons. However, these benefits may not necessarily be earned in the first season, but will accrue in subsequent seasons.
dc.format.extent18p.
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectLegumes
dc.subjectMaize
dc.subjectAgriculture
dc.subjectCrops
dc.subjectWater
dc.titleOn-farm experimentation on conservation agriculture in maize-legume based cropping systems in Kenya: Water use efficiency and economic impacts
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.description.versionPeer Review
cg.contributor.crpGrain Legumes
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.contributor.affiliationKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
cg.contributor.affiliationJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEast Africa
cg.coverage.countryKenya
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and developing country institute
cg.iitasubjectMaize
cg.iitasubjectFarming Systems
cg.iitasubjectGrain Legumes
cg.journalExperimental Agriculture
cg.howpublishedFormally Published
cg.accessibilitystatusLimited Access
local.dspaceid70332
cg.targetaudienceScientists
cg.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0014479714000556


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