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This study was done at Mlughi Agricultural demonstration farm in Bura, Taita Taveta County-Kenya to test upland rice varietal performance and di-ammonium fertilizer effects on panicle characteristics and yield parameter. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with seven upland rice varieties and three fertilizer levels. The treatments were replicated thrice to give a total of 63 treatment combinations or plots. The experiment was carried out for two seasons (short rains from October to December 2018 and long rains from March to May 2019). The upland rice varieties included 17KH09010014B, 17KH09010093B, AT 058, China Hybrid, NERICA 1, NERICA 4, and NERICA 10. The fertilizer treatments were di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), farm yard manure (FYM), and a control of no fertilizer. Topdressing was done at the flowering stage with NPK fertilizer. Data collected included plant height, number of leaves, tiller number, panicle length, spikelets count per panicle, grain yield ha-1 and weight of 1000 grains. The data were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using R version 3.6.1 program and Tukey’s HSD test, p ≤ 0.05 was used to separate the significant means. The results showed that there was significant influence (p = 0.0001) of overall seasonal, treatment and variety on the yield of rice grains in tonnes per hectare. The 2018 season had the lowest tonnage compared to the 2019 season. Crops under the control treatment yielded the least tonnage per hectare while the DAP treated fields yielded the highest in both seasons. NERICA 4 was the highest yielding variety while AT 058 was the least yielding among the treatments in both seasons. It was therefore concluded that the application of DAP and FYM significantly increased rice productivity. Farmers are therefore encouraged to carry out soil fertility testing occasionally and to plant NERICA varieties.

Water is a critical ecosystem service, whose scarcity is increasing in urban and peri-urban areas commensurate with population growth. This paper reports on the potential of roof-based rainwater harvesting as an option in mitigating this challenge and complementing metered water supplies. Roof footprints were mapped and computed using standard GIS procedures. A social survey using questionnaires was used to collect data from homeowners in the estate. The social data were subjected to descriptive statistics to yield general trends on water availability, use, and management. Rainfall data covering the period 2005-2017 was obtained from the Kenyatta University Field Meteorological Station. Results showed that at least 90% of households depend on Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company for water. Despite the prevailing water shortages, about 80% of homes lack complete and functioning rainwater harvesting infrastructure. Potential harvests based on a standard roof area of 350 m 2 per residence range from 5250 to 63,350 litres per month, with a mean of 26,000 litres. The two rainy seasons can in particular yield significant quantities of water and greatly enhance water security in the area. Scaling-up of rainwater harvesting can however benefit from appropriate policy incentives such as lowering the cost of plastic tanks to make them more affordable, and including rainwater harvesting infrastructure as a requirement for construction approvals.