Abstract
The effects of conservation tillage, crop residue and cropping systems on the changes in soil organic matter (SOM) and overall maize–legume production were investigated in western Kenya. The experiment was a split-split plot design with three replicates with crop residue management as main plots, cropping systems as sub-plots and nutrient levels as sub-sub plots. Nitrogen was applied in each treatment at two rates (0 and 60 kg N ha−1). Phosphorus was applied at 60 kg P/ha in all plots except two intercropped plots. Inorganic fertilizer (N and P) showed significant effects on yields with plots receiving 60 kg P ha−1 + 60 kg N ha−1 giving higher yields of 5.23 t ha−1 compared to control plots whose yields were as low as 1.8 t ha−1 during the third season. Crop residues had an additive effect on crop production, soil organic carbon and soil total nitrogen. Crop rotation gave higher yields hence an attractive option to farmers. Long-term studies are needed to show the effects of crop residue, cropping systems and nutrient input on sustainability of SOM and crop productivity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agboola AA, Fayemi AA (1972) Fixation and excretion of nitrogen by tropical legumes. Legumes Agron J 64:409–412
Cambardella CA, Elliott ET (1992) Particulate soil organic matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:777–783
Campbell BM, Frost PGH, Kirchmann H, Swift M (1998) A survey of soil fertility management in small-scale farming systems on north-eastern Zimbabwe. J Sustain Agric 11:19–39. doi:10.1300/J064v11n02_04
Chikowo R, Mapfumo P, Nyamugafata P, Giller KE (2004) Woody legume fallow productivity, biological N2-fixation and residual benefits to two successive maize crops in Zimbabwe. Plant Soil 262:303–315. doi:10.1023/B:PLSO.0000037053.05902.60
Dalal RC, Henderson PA, Glasby JM (1991) Organic matter and microbial biomass in a vertisol after 20 yrs of zero tillage. Soil Biol Biochem 23:435–441. doi:10.1016/0038-0717(91)90006-6
Feller C, Beare MH (1997) Physical control of soil organic matter dynamics in the tropics. Geoderma 79:69–116. doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(97)00039-6
Franzluebbers AJ, Hons FM, Zuberer DA (1994) Long term changes in soil carbon and nitrogen pools in wheat management systems. Soil Sci Soc Am J 58:1639–1645
Gachengo CN, Palm CA, Jama B, Othieno CO (1999) Tithonia and Senna green manures and inorganic fertilizers as phosphorus sources for maize in western Kenya. Agrofor Syst 44:21–36. doi:10.1023/A:1006123404071
Giller KE (1999) Nitrogen mineralization: leaching tube protocol. In: Mutuo P, Palm C (eds) Combined inorganic and organic nutrient sources: experimental protocols for TSBF-AfNeT, SoilFert and SWNM. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility, Nairobi, Kenya, pp 17–19
Giller KE, Gilbert R, Mugwira LM, Muza L, Patel BK, Waddington S (1998) Practical approaches to soil organic matter management for smallholder maize production in Southern Africa. In: Waddington SR, Murwira HK, Kumwenda JDT, Hikwa D, Tagwira F (eds) Soil fertility research for maize-based farming systems in Malawi and Zimbabwe. Soil FertNet and CIMMYT-Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe, pp 139–153
Hassink J (1995) Density fractions of soil macroorganic matter and microbial biomass as predictors of C and N mineralization. Soil Biol Biochem 27:1099–1108. doi:10.1016/0038-0717(95)00027-C
Kasasa P, Mpepereki S, Musiyiwa K, Makonese F, Giller KE (1999) Residual nitrogen benefits of promiscuous soybean to maize under field conditions. Afr Crop Sci J 7:375–382
Kifuko MN (2002) Effect of combining organic residues with phosphate rock and triplesuperphosphate on phosphorus sorption and maize performance in acid soils of western Kenya. M.Phil Thesis, Dept of Soil science, Moi Univ, Eldoret
LaI R (1997) Residue management, conservation tillage and soil restoration for mitigating green house effect by CO2 enrichment. Soil Tillage Res 43:81–107. doi:10.1016/S0167-1987(97)00036-6
Mafongoya PL, Nair PKR (1997) Multipurpose tree prunnings as sources of nitrogen to maize under semi-arid conditions in Zimbabwe: interaction of pruning quality and time and method of application on nitrogen recovery by maize in two soil types. Agrofor Syst 37:1–14. doi:10.1023/A:1005833528619
Mann L, Tolbert V, Cushmann J (2002) Potential environmental effects of corn (Zea mays L) stover removal with emphasis on soil organic matter and erosion. Agric Ecosyst Environ 89:149–166. doi:10.1016/S0167-8809(01)00166-9
Mtambanengwe F, Mapfumo P, Vanlauwe B (2006) Comparative short-term effects of different quality organic resources on maize productivity under two different environments in Zimbabwe. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 76:271–284. doi:10.1007/s10705-005-4988-7
Mugwira LM, Murwira HK (1997) Use of cattle manure to improve soil fertility in Zimbabwe: past and current research and future research needs. Network of working paper no. 2 soil fertility network for maize based cropping systems in Zimbabwe and Malawi. CIMMYT, Harare, Zimbabwe
Ndung’u KW, Okalebo JR, Othieno CO, Kifuko MN, Kipkoech AN, Kimenye LN (2006) Residual effectiveness of Minjingu Phosphate Rock and fallow biomass on crop yields and financial returns in western Kenya. Exp Agric 42:323–336
Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1975) A rapid and accurate method of estimating organic carbon in soil. Proc Indian Acad Sci 84:456–462
Nicholson FA, Chambers BJ, Mills AR, Stachon PJ (1997) Effects of repeated straw additions on crop fertilizer requirements, soil mineral nitrogen and nitrate leaching loses. Soil Use Manage 13:136–142. doi:10.1111/j.1475-2743.1997.tb00574.x
Nyathi P, Campbell BM (1993) The acquisition and use of miombo litter by small-scale farmers in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Agrofor Syst 22:43–48. doi:10.1007/BF00707469
Okalebo JR, Palm CA, Gichiru M, Owuor JO, Othieno CO, Munyampundu A et al (1999) Use of wheat straw, soybean trash and nitrogen fertilizer for maize production in the Kenyan highlands. Afr Crop Sci J 7(4):433–440
Okalebo JR, Gathua KW, Woomer PL (2002) Laboratory methods of plant and soil analysis: a working manual, 2nd edn. TSBF-UNESCO, Nairobi
Palm CA (1996) Nutrient management: combined use of organic and inorganic fertilizers for increasing soil phosphorus availability. Annual report of Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Programme (TSBF). Nairobi, Kenya
Palm CA, Myers RJK, Nandwa SM (1997) Combined use of organic and inorganic nutrient sources for soil fertility maintenance and replenishment. In: Buresh JR et al (eds) Replenishing soil fertility in Africa. SSA, Madison, pp 193–217
Paustian K, Parton WJ, Persson J (1992) Modelling soil organic matter in organic amended and nitrogen-fertilized long-term plots. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:476–488
Powell JM, Unger PW (1998) Alternatives to crop residues for sustaining agricultural productivity and natural resource conservation. J Sustain Agric 11:59–84. doi:10.1300/J064v11n02_07
Six J, Elliott ET, Paustian K (1999) Aggregate and SOM dynamics under conventional and no-tillage systems. Soil Sci Am J 63:1350–1358
Six J, Elliot ET, Paustian K (2000) Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for carbon sequestration under no tillage agriculture. Soil Biol Biochem 32:2099–2103. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00179-6
Six J, Conant RT, Paul EA, Paustian K (2002) Stabilization mechanism for soil organic matter: implications for carbon saturation of soils. Plant Soil 141:155–176. doi:10.1023/A:1016125726789
Van der meer JH (1992) The ecology of intercropping. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Waigwa M (2002) The use of manure and crop residues to improve the solubility of Minjingu phosphate rock for phosphorus replenishment in depleted acid soils of western Kenya. M.Phil Thesis. Moi University, Eldoret Kenya
Yang XM, Wander MM (1999) Tillage effects on soil organic carbon distribution and storage in silt loam soil in Illinois. Soil Tillage Res 52:1–9. doi:10.1016/S0167-1987(99)00051-3
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the support of John Mukalama for coordinating field activities, the farmer for availing the experimental site and casual labourers. Also thanks to the technicians at Moi University, Department of Soil Science for guidance in laboratory analyses. We are grateful for financial support from Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) institute of CIAT.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Anyanzwa, H., Okalebo, J.R., Othieno, C.O. et al. Effects of conservation tillage, crop residue and cropping systems on changes in soil organic matter and maize–legume production: a case study in Teso District. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 88, 39–47 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9210-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-008-9210-2