INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER TYPES AND INTERCROPPING ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND CROP PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED PARTS OF BUSIA COUNTY WESTERN KENYA

Abstract

In order to address the low soil fertility and low crop yields within Busia county of western Kenya, an integrated soil fertility study was carried out during the 2016 SR and 2017 LR at Busia ATC and Teso farmers field study sites. Information on the underlying soil fertility constraints was based on a desk top review as a basis for field trials involving FYM, Mavuno fertilizer and their mix. A split plot arrangement under RCBD experimental design with fertilizers at the main plot and legume intercrops at sup plot levels in three replications. A recommended (26 kg P ha-1 ) fertilizer rate was adopted for each of the treatments applied except for the control for sorghum and (30 kg P ha-1 ) for the legumes. All treatments applied significantly (p<0.05%) increased all measured soil parameters including soil pH, available P, total N and the micronutrients: Zn and Cu. These contributed to significantly (p<0.05%) high sorghum grain yield above the control by 240%, 288% and 268% under FYM, Mavuno and their mix respectively at Busia site and 11.4 %1.11% and 8.3% for Teso site during the 2016 SR and and 30%, 36% and 29% for Busia and 75%, 73%and 79% for Teso during 2017 LR respectively. Intercropping impacted positively on all soil parameters measured including sorghum crop performance, N and P uptakes by the sorghum crop and sorghum grain contents. Significantly (p<0.05) higher legume intercrops yields were realized from the residual effects of all inputs. Sorghum/groundnut intercrop recorded the highest average gross returns under all ttreatments: FYM, mavuno, or FYM+mavuno combined. This study showed that FYM, mavuno sole, or combined greatly improved the soil fertility of Busia and Teso sites which translates into higher crop yields observed. However, for long-term soil fertilitysustainability FYM and FYM+mavuno combination is recommended. For higher returns from the crop mix, sorghum/groundnuts under all the tested inputs FYM, mavuno, and FYM+mavuno combined are recommended for the farmers’ adoption, given the higher prices offered on the market for the groundnuts.