Tied-ridging and integrated nutrient management options for sustainable crop production in semi-arid eastern Kenya

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two seasons at Emali, Makueni District in Eastern Kenya to compare the effect of tied ridging and integrated nutrient management practices on the yield of rainfed maize (Zeamays L.) and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L.). The main treatments were flat bed (FB, traditional farmers' practice) and tied ridging (TR) as main plots. The manure and fertilizers were farmyard manure (FYM, goat manure at 0 and 5 t ha(-1)) in a factorial combination with nitrogen (N fertilizer at 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha(-1)) and P fertilizer at 0 and 40 g P ha(-1) as the subplots in a split-plot treatment arrangement of a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Results from maize yield data in the continuous maize cropping systems indicate that maize stover was significantly (P