Innovative agroecology practices improve maize and bean yields in nutrient-deficient sandy soils of Makueni, Kenya

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research instituteen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Center for Tropical Agricultureen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute for Tropical Agricultureen_US
cg.contributor.affiliationCenter for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestryen_US
cg.contributor.donorCGIAR Trust Funden_US
cg.contributor.initiativeAgroecologyen_US
cg.coverage.countryKenyaen_US
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2KEen_US
cg.coverage.regionAfricaen_US
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africaen_US
cg.coverage.regionSub-Saharan Africaen_US
cg.creator.identifierPeter BOLO: 0000-0002-4202-7557en_US
cg.creator.identifierHEZEKIAH KORIR: 0000-0001-5444-2662en_US
cg.creator.identifierBeatrice Adoyo: 0009-0007-8736-2539en_US
cg.creator.identifierAnne Kuria: 0000-0003-3420-7985en_US
cg.creator.identifierLisa Elena Fuchs: 0000-0002-8342-6087en_US
cg.identifier.urlhttps://www.tropentag.de/abstract.php?code=JGt7nihRen_US
cg.subject.actionAreaResilient Agrifood Systemsen_US
cg.subject.actionAreaSystems Transformationen_US
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatAGRICULTUREen_US
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatBEANSen_US
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatFOOD SYSTEMSen_US
cg.subject.alliancebiovciatSOIL HEALTHen_US
cg.subject.impactAreaEnvironmental health and biodiversityen_US
cg.subject.sdgSDG 1 - No povertyen_US
cg.subject.sdgSDG 2 - Zero hungeren_US
cg.subject.sdgSDG 12 - Responsible production and consumptionen_US
dc.contributor.authorBolo, Peteren_US
dc.contributor.authorKorir, Hezekiahen_US
dc.contributor.authorAdoyo, Beatriceen_US
dc.contributor.authorKuria, Anneen_US
dc.contributor.authorFuchs, Lisa Elenaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-02T12:35:49Zen_US
dc.date.available2025-01-02T12:35:49Zen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/168466en_US
dc.titleInnovative agroecology practices improve maize and bean yields in nutrient-deficient sandy soils of Makueni, Kenyaen_US
dcterms.abstractAgroecology has been highlighted as a sustainable approach with the potential to support food system transformation in both low and middle-income countries. Its potential to improve soil and crop productivity is unmatched. Implementation of innovative agroecology practices is key in promoting soil quality and health, improving agrobiodiversity and enhancing crop productivity. We assessed the influences of select agroecology practices on maize and bean crop performance in nutrient deficient sandy soils in Makueni County, Kenya. The study was conducted on 30 resource-constrained smallholder farms during the short rains season of the year 2023. The innovative agroecology practices tested involved; i) use of biopesticides (IPM); ii) terracing, and iii) use of organic inputs (manure). The three agroecology practices geared towards pest (IPM), water (terraces) and soil (manure) management. We present the results of one cropping season. Preliminary results show that agroecological practices involving combined use of biopesticides and organic inputs increased maize and bean yields relative to the rest of the practices. Across the three agroecology practices implemented, maize yields increased by at least 40 kilograms. Relative to control plots, maize yields increased by 109, 78 and 40 kilograms per acre respectively under terraces, manure and IPM practices, respectively. This was consistent to monetary gains averaging USD$ 50.26, 63.14 and 18.28 per acre in one season under terraces, manure and IPM, respectively. Similarly, increased by 20.7, 33.3 and 19.8 kilograms per acre per season, respectively under IPM, Manure and terraces. These were equivalent to monetary gains of USD$ 25.48, 40.98 and 24.37, respectively under IPM, manure and terraces. These results provide preliminary evidence to support the promotion of agroecological practices among farmers and policy makers. In addition, the outcomes indicate that agroecological practices are effective in boosting crop performance, underpinning the possibility to attain improved productivity and sustainability through integration of agroecology practices. Finally, farmers can effectively and cheaply manage crop pests through the use of biopesticides that reduces dependence on harmful and expensive chemical pesticides.en_US
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Accessen_US
dcterms.bibliographicCitationBolo, P.; Korir, H.; Adoyo, B.; Kuria, A.; Fuchs, L.E. (2024) Innovative agroecology practices improve maize and bean yields in nutrient-deficient sandy soils of Makueni, Kenya, Tropentag, September 11 - 13, 2024, Vienna. 1 p.en_US
dcterms.extent1 p.en_US
dcterms.issued2024-09-18en_US
dcterms.languageenen_US
dcterms.licenseOtheren_US
dcterms.subjectagronomyen_US
dcterms.subjectinnovation systemsen_US
dcterms.subjectagrobiodiversity-agricultural biodiversityen_US
dcterms.typeAbstracten_US

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