Zai Pit Effects on Selected Soil Properties and Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>) Growth and Grain Yield in Two Selected Dryland Regions of Kenya

• 作者: Sillus O. Oduor Nancy W. Mungai Seth F. O. Owido
• 来源期刊: 土壤科学期刊(英文)
• 学科: 数学
• 关键词: Zai Pits ASALs Soil Moisture Dryland Agriculture Cattle Manure Inorganic Nitrogen Extractable Phosphorus
• 年，卷（期）: 2021,（1）
• 页码范围: 39-57
• 页数: 19页
• 分类号: O17

摘要

Erratic rainfall and temperature regimes, strongly affect agricultural productivity. To address the reduction in production, this study assessed the effect of Zai pit depths on selected soil properties and cowpea growth and grain yield. “Zai” pit technology was tested in two locations falling under Agroecological Zone IV (relatively dry areas) <i>i.e.</i> Katumani in Machakos County and Naivasha in Nakuru County, Kenya, aiming to determine the combined effect of four “Zai” pit depths and two levels of manure (plots with manure and plots without manure) on selected soil properties, growth and yield of cowpea. Experiment was laid out in split plot arrangement, with manure levels as the main plot factor and “Zai” pit depths (Flat: Z₀, 30 cm: Z₃₀, 45 cm: Z₄₅ and 60 cm: Z₆₀) as subplot factor, replicated four times. Cowpea (M66 variety) was used as the test crop. Inorganic N and extractable P were significantly (P < 0.05) higher, at 1.37 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&sdot;</span></span>kg^{<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&minus;</span></span>1} for N_in and 80.4 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&sdot;</span></span>kg^{<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&minus;</span></span>1} for P_ex in Zai pits compared to flat plots which were at 0.91 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&sdot;</span></span>kg^{<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&minus;</span></span>1} for N_in and 47.1 mg<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&sdot;</span></span>kg^{<span style="white-space:nowrap;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">&minus;</span></span>1} for P_ex. The values of N_in and P_ex also varied depending on depths, with Z₄₅ having highest N<su