Effect Of Conservation Agriculture On Water Retention, Soil Properties And Maize Yields In Semi-Arid Kajiado County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Food insecurity and hunger are global challenges attributed to poor crop harvests, land

degradation, low soil moisture and declining soil fertility. Low maize yields and

household food insecurity in Kajiado, Kenya could be alleviated by use of sustainable

agricultural practices such as conservation agriculture (CA), integrated soil fertility

management (ISFM) and increased water use efficiency. This study was carried out in

Kajiado during the long rainy season of March-July, 2016 to (i) determine the effects of

conservation tillage on maize growth and yields (ii) determine the effects of

conservation tillage on soil physical properties (soil moisture retention and soil

structure) and (iii) determine the effect of conservation tillage on soil chemical

properties (Soil Carbon, soil pH, soil N, P, and K). The treatments were laid out in a

RCBD with three replications. The treatments included: 1. Conventional tillage with

residue removal (Control). 2. Conventional tillage with residue retention (3 ton/ha). 3.

Conventional tillage with residue retention (5 ton/ha incorporation). 4. Reduced tillage

– (one plough with 3 ton/ha stover incorporation). 5. Reduced tillage – (one plough with

5 ton/ha stover incorporation). 6. No-tillage practice – (no prior tillage, 3 ton/ha stover

residue chopped, surface applied). 7. No-tillage practice – (no prior tillage, 5 ton/ha

stover residue chopped, surface applied). Analysis was done using SAS version 8.

Results from the study show significant effects (p CT-5>CT-3 >