Effect of placement of straw mulch on soil conservation, nutrient accumulation, and wheat yield in a humid Kenyan highland

Effect of placement of straw mulch on soil conservation, nutrient accumulation, and wheat yield in a humid Kenyan highland

Authors

  • Benjamin Odinga Danga Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Egerton, Kenya.
  • Isaiah I.C. Wakindiki Department of Agronomy, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag XI314, King William’s Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa.

Keywords:

Soil erosion, nutrient accumulation, organic matter, sediment enrichment, yield economic benefit

Abstract

Mulching affects soil nutrient dynamics and crop yields. The effects of quantity and method of application of wheat straw mulch on soil loss, nutrient accumulation, nutrient loss, and wheat yield were evaluated in a field experiment in the acidic, dark red, Rhodic Ferralsols of Kenya. The experiment involved three levels of wheat straw mulch (0, 3, and 5 Mg•ha–1) either incorporated in the soil (0 to 0.2 m) or surface applied. Surface application at 5 Mg•ha–1 decreased annual soil loss to 1.82 Mg•ha–1 from 14 Mg•ha–1 in the control. Deep placement of 5 Mg•ha–1 of straw, however, increased soil organic matter content by 23%. Annual losses of NH4–N, NO3–N, PO4–P, and available K in the sediments were 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.44 kg•ha–1, respectively in the 5 Mg•ha–1surface treatment. Straw mulch treatments also enriched NO3–N concentration in the 0 to 0.4 m soil layer. Surface application of 3 Mg•ha–1 straw gave the highest grain yield of wheat and the highest net returns (US$ 747), which was 30% more than that of the control.

Author Biography

Benjamin Odinga Danga, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, Egerton, Kenya.

Lecturer Deparment of Crops Horticulture and Soils

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Published

18-12-2009

How to Cite

Danga, B. O., & Wakindiki, I. I. (2009). Effect of placement of straw mulch on soil conservation, nutrient accumulation, and wheat yield in a humid Kenyan highland. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 47(1), 30–36. Retrieved from https://jtropag.kau.in/index.php/ojs2/article/view/200

Issue

Section

Regular papers

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