The excessive application of mineral fertilizers in maize cultivation leads to progressive soil contamination in the long term and increases the cost of production. An alternative to reduce over-fertilization is to perform a partial replacement with microbes that promote nutrition and growth, such as Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF). A pot experiment which was followed by two field experiments was performed with and without the application of indigenous AMF in combination with five nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilization rates (100% NPK = N120P60K60; 75% NPK = N90P45K45; 50% NPK = N60P30K30; 25% NPK = N30P15K15; control = N0P0K0). The objective was to investigate whether the soil application of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi inoculum combined with NPK fertilization can provide higher maize yields and soil-available N, P, and K than chemical fertilization can alone. The greenhouse results showed that the application of AMF with a 50% NPK treatment significantly increased the plant’s growth, root colonization, leaf chlorophyll content, and N, P, and K tissue content. The results from the field conditions showed that there was a highly significant yield after the treatment with AMF + 50% NPK. The study also revealed that mycorrhizal fungi inoculation increased the available soil N and P concentrations when it was combined with a 50% NPK dose. This suggests that the inoculation of fields with AM fungi can reduce the chemical fertilizer application by half, while improving soil chemistry. The results suggested that AMF inoculation can be used in integrated soil fertility management strategies.

Hunger and malnutrition are burdens that are pronounced in developing countries where they manifest themselves in the forms of protein energy malnutrition. Malnutrition compromises the child's immune system leading to direct mortality and increased vulnerability to infectious diseases stunting and poor brain development. This study sought to analyze the food consumption patterns of children 3 -5 years old attending Mateka Primary school, Bungoma County. This study adopted a cross sectional survey. One hundred and twenty five (125) children selected from three ECD classes in the school formed the sample size. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study area and the children respectively. Structured questionnaires were administered to the caregivers of the children. Information on demographics, socio-economic status, and food consumption patterns were gathered. Food consumption patterns were assessed using a HDDS and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Socio-demographic data was analyzed using (SPSS) Version 21 (2007) and dietary data was analyzed using Nutri-Survey for Windows (2007). Results revealed that most of the households were of low socio-economic characteristics. The most consumed foods were cereals, roots and tubers. Majority (55.2%) of the children had low dietary diversity, 29.1% had medium dietary diversity and 15.7% had greater dietary diversity. The children were deficient in energy, protein, Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc. It can be concluded that the diets fed to the children are inadequate to meet their nutrient intakes for physiological development and growth. Further research should be done to document the prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition among the children.

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Protein and energy malnutrition continues to be a global health problem particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is attributed to high levels of poverty where most households cannot afford animal source proteins. Cheaper and sustainable legumes can be used to address this. To evaluate the effect of soybean fortified porridges on the nutritional status of children in early childhood development centre at Mateka Primary School, Bungoma County. A longitudinal survey and Complete Randomized Design experimental design were employed in this study. The first porridge formulation was made of maize and soybean in the ratio 75:25, the second maize, and sorghum soybeans in the ratio 50:25:25 and the third formulation 100% maize. The three porridges were randomly allocated to three groups of the children and were fed for a period of six months with approximately 300ml of the porridge. Nutritional assessment was done at baseline, and every month for six months at the ninth month. At baseline, 30%, 6.7% and 10.8% of the children were stunted, wasted and underweight respectively. At the end of the feeding trial, there was significant (p<0.05) reduction in the levels of underweight (47.27%) and wasting (44.23%) in the soybean fortified porridge groups. The group fed on maize-soybean blend and maize-sorghum-soybean blend gained 1.77kgs and 0.62kgs respectively. In conclusion, soybean fortified porridges improved the nutritional status of the children. It is recommended that awareness of the nutritional benefits of soybean should be raised to increase its adoption in the households and also it will be valuable schools with feeding programs to introduce corn-soy blends or products as part of school meals.