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Full-Text Articles in Soil Science

White Lupin Leads To Increased Maize Yield Through A Soil Fertility-Independent Mechanism: A New Candidate For Fighting Striga Hermonthica Infestation?, Laure Weisskopf, Pollycarp Akello, Roxane Milleret, Zeyaur R. Khan, Fritz Schulthess, Jean Michel Gobat, Renée Claire Le Bayon Jun 2009

White Lupin Leads To Increased Maize Yield Through A Soil Fertility-Independent Mechanism: A New Candidate For Fighting Striga Hermonthica Infestation?, Laure Weisskopf, Pollycarp Akello, Roxane Milleret, Zeyaur R. Khan, Fritz Schulthess, Jean Michel Gobat, Renée Claire Le Bayon

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Nitrogen (N)-deficiency and lack of phosphorus (P) availability are major constraints to maize yields in Western Kenya. In a two-season field study in the lake Victoria basin, we tested the capacity of white lupin (Lupinus albus (L.), cv. Ultra), as a nitrogen-fixing crop with a highly efficient P-acquisition capacity, to increase maize yields when used as a companion or cover crop, or as a source of organic matter. Each experiment was performed on three different fields (Vertisols) differing in N/P availability, previous cropping history and in levels of infestation by the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. Our results show …


Potential Of Improved Fallows To Increase Household And Regional Fuelwood Supply: Evidence From Western Kenya, B. A. Jama, J. K. Mutegi, A. N. Njui Jun 2008

Potential Of Improved Fallows To Increase Household And Regional Fuelwood Supply: Evidence From Western Kenya, B. A. Jama, J. K. Mutegi, A. N. Njui

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Fuelwood is the main energy source for households in rural Africa, but its supply is rapidly declining especially in the densely populated areas. Short duration planted tree fallows, an agroforestry technology widely promoted in sub-Sahara Africa for soil fertility improvement may offer some remedy. Our objective was to determine the fuelwood production potential of 6, 12 and 18 months (the common fallow rotation periods) old Crotalaria grahamiana, Crotalaria paulina, Tephrosia vogelli and Tephrosia candida fallows under farmer-managed conditions in western Kenya. Based on plot-level yields, we estimated the extent to which these tree fallows would meet household and sub-national fuelwood …


Integrated Management Of Striga Hermonthica, Stemborers, And Declining Soil Fertility In Western Kenya, B. Vanlauwe, F. Kanampiu, G. D. Odhiambo, H. De Groote, L. J. Wadhams, Z. R. Khan May 2008

Integrated Management Of Striga Hermonthica, Stemborers, And Declining Soil Fertility In Western Kenya, B. Vanlauwe, F. Kanampiu, G. D. Odhiambo, H. De Groote, L. J. Wadhams, Z. R. Khan

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Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth., stemborers, and declining soil fertility are serious threats to sustainable food production in the Lake Victoria zone of Kenya. To address these constraints, promising integrated crop management technologies were evaluated, using a multi-locational design in four sub-locations in Siaya and Vihiga district (western Kenya) for six cropping seasons. Technologies evaluated consisted of the traditional maize (Zea mays L.) - bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) intercrop, maize - Desmodium (Desmodium uncinatum (Jacq.) DC.) push-pull intercrop, Crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don) - maize rotation, and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) - maize rotation. Within each of these systems, imazapyr-coated …


Predators Of Mesoplatys Ochroptera In Sesbania Planted-Fallows In Eastern Zambia, G. Sileshi, M. Kenis, C. K.P.O. Ogol, S. Sithanantham Aug 2001

Predators Of Mesoplatys Ochroptera In Sesbania Planted-Fallows In Eastern Zambia, G. Sileshi, M. Kenis, C. K.P.O. Ogol, S. Sithanantham

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Mesoplatys ochroptera Stål (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious pest of the tropical legume sesbania (Sesbania sesban (L.) Merrill) widely used for soil fertility improvement in southern Africa. Surveys were conducted between October 1997 and June 1999 in order to identify the predators of M. ochroptera in sesbania fallows in eastern Zambia. The Heteroptera Afrius yolofa (Guérin-Méneville), Glypsus conspicuus (Westwood), Macrorhaphis acuta Dallas, Mecosoma mensor (Germar), Rhinocoris segmentarius (Germar), and Deraeocoris ostentans (Stål), the carabid beetle Cyaneodinodes fasciger (Chaudoir), the ants Tetramorium sericeiventre Emery and Pheidole sp., and the lacewing Mallada sp. were recorded as predators of M. ochroptera for the …


Influence Of The Termite Macrotermes Michaelseni (Sjöst) On Soil Fertility And Vegetation In A Semi-Arid Savannah Ecosystem, M. A. Arshad Jan 1982

Influence Of The Termite Macrotermes Michaelseni (Sjöst) On Soil Fertility And Vegetation In A Semi-Arid Savannah Ecosystem, M. A. Arshad

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The growth and species structure of vegetation in relation to the proximity of termite (M. michaelseni) mounds was studied in a semi-arid savannah ecosystem during 1978-1980. The dry matter yield in the termite-modified area at 1-10 m distance from mounds was significantly greater (P < 0.01) than that in the area beyond 22 m which is relatively unaffected by the termites. Themeda triandra and Digitaria scalarum, dominant grass species of the area, were totally absent in the 1-10 m zone around the mound. The major species in the immediate vicinity of the mound were Pennisetum stramineum and Cynodon dactylon, the latter was a dominant species (over 90%) within the 0-10 m zone and entirely absent beyond 15 m from the mound. The number of grass species increased from 2-3 species around the mound to 6-7 species in the area apparently beyond the influence of the mound. High concentration of nutrients and favourable water availability, together with good drainage, appeared to be the major causes of increased biomass and different species composition of vegetation around the mound. © 1982.