Cattle manure quality in Maragua District, Central Kenya: effect of management practices and development of simple methods of assessment

Lekasi, J.K.; Tanner, J.C.; Kimani, S.K.; Harris, P.J.C.

doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(02)00037-3

Cited by 65 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…), and the type of amendments used, as they vary widely in biochemical properties. The organic manures, behave differently to plant materials as manures vary widely in composition being a complex mixture of animal excreta (cattle, goat, pig or sheep) and plant residue (different plant species or different plant part of same species such as leaves, stems and roots) that has undergone varying degrees of composting [64]. The existence of a range, instead of a single value for the break-even point is probably related to variation in the C/N ratio of the decomposing microbial biomass (bacterial versus fungi-dominated) as well as the existence of organic components with different susceptibility to decomposition.…”

Section: Carbon-to-nitrogen Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

How Important is the Quality of Organic Amendments in Relation to Mineral N Availability in Soils?

et al. 2013

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Summary Wastes generated from municipal and agricultural activities have the tremendous potential for application in agriculture as a source of nutrients and as amendments to improve soil organic matter (SOM). A decline in SOM can represent a serious threat to soil fertility and quality. Nitrogen (N) mineralization from organic amendments is important for understanding the N dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. In this review, quality of the amendments such as C/N ration, N content, and biochemical compositions, etc. are discussed. Since, C/N ratio cannot explain all differences in N mineralization; emphasis has been laid on characterizing different compounds in organic amendments that govern the mineralization process. The importance of simulation models has also been described in modeling N mineralization from some complex materials like compost, animal manures and farmyard manures. These complex simulation models once modified according to the quality of the organic amendments can simulate N mineralization and thus, they can be used for simulating N dynamics in terrestrial eco-systems.

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Section: Carbon-to-nitrogen Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

How Important is the Quality of Organic Amendments in Relation to Mineral N Availability in Soils?

et al. 2013

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“…Cattle dung was used by all households as manure or as a fuel, which affects the nutrient cycling in crop-livestock systems accordingly (Harris, 2002;Lekasi et al, 2003). A higher proportion being used as fuel in the midland and highland regions BW and DD.…”

Section: Animal Feed and Dung Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Crop-Livestock Farming Systems Varying with Different Altitudes in Southern Ethiopia

Österle¹,

Angassa²,

Tadesse³

et al. 2013

Sci. Technol. Arts Res. J.

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Article InformationIn Sub-Saharan Africa, rangeland is increasingly converted to cropland, creating diverse crop-livestock practices in different environments. As these practices lead to highly adapted livestock production systems using resources that vary locally and seasonally, not much is known about their similarities and differences. We assessed different crop-livestock systems through 60 semistructured interviews in lowlands (<1700 m.a.s.l), mid-altitude ranges (~2000 masl), and highlands (>2400 m.a.s.l) around the Rift Valley, Ethiopia. Average livestock numbers per household were higher in lowlands (43) and highlands (18), where access to communal grazing lands was possible. Cattle dominated at all sites, draught oxen numbers increased with available cropping land per household. All sites used crop residues as supplemental feed. Dung was used as manure in most households, as fuel is used only in higher regions. Our study showed that crop-livestock practices and livestock numbers can be explained by altitude but also by the availability of private and communally used land. Further practices should include growing fodder legumes, crop rotations, and intercropping, which might support a reduced-tillage system and reduce numbers of environmentally costly draught oxen.

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“…It was, however, only widely used in Kenya, where 45% of the farmers indicated having used manure on their last potato crop, compared with 18 and 26% of potato farmers in Uganda and Ethiopia, respectively (Table 3). The average amount of farmyard manure applied in Kenya by those farmers using it contained 48 and 13 kg of nitrogen and phosphorus, respectively, if one uses the farmyard manure composition figures presented by Lekasi et al (2003). Table 3 shows large differences amongst the countries in utilization of fertilizer in potato farming.…”

Section: Fertilizer Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Potato Production in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia: A System Diagnosis

et al. 2009

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Increased productivity of potatoes can improve the livelihood of smallholder potato farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia and is required to meet the growing demand. This paper investigates the opportunities for potato system improvement that could result in improved productivity. Through a diagnosis of the potato systems in the three countries on the basis of surveys and stakeholder workshops, seed potato quality management, bacterial wilt control, late blight control and soil fertility management were identified as key technical intervention topics. For effective problem solving in these areas, the functioning of the potato innovation system requires improvement to better deliver the functions of potato marketing as well as knowledge development and information exchange. With use of a 'system failure framework' the shortcomings of the potato innovation system are identified and discussed and options for improvement are suggested.

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Cattle manure quality in Maragua District, Central Kenya: effect of management practices and development of simple methods of assessment

Cited by 65 publications

References 5 publications

How Important is the Quality of Organic Amendments in Relation to Mineral N Availability in Soils?

How Important is the Quality of Organic Amendments in Relation to Mineral N Availability in Soils?

Crop-Livestock Farming Systems Varying with Different Altitudes in Southern Ethiopia

Improving Potato Production in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia: A System Diagnosis

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