Financial return of sorghum and cowpea production under selected water harvesting and integrated soil fertility management options in central Kenya highlands

Résumé

Background: Crop production in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) is constrained by erratic rainfall and poor soil fertility. The reduction in yields from farmers’ fields demonstrates the need for appropriate agricultural production technologies, innovations and management practices. Objective: To determine, on-farm, the effect of water harvesting, cropping systems and Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies on sorghum and cowpea productivity and profitability in Central Kenya Highlands. Methodology: The treatments were arranged in a factorial structure with 3 levels of water harvesting (Tied Ridges-TR, Contour Furrows-CF and Farmers Practice-FP), 2 cropping systems (Sole and Intercrop) and 6 soil fertility management options laid out in a partially balanced incomplete block design (PBIBD), replicated thrice. Sorghum and cowpea grains and biomass yields were determined at harvesting and cost of production data was collected to determine cost benefit analysis. Data was subjected to Analysis of variance and means separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at p≤0.05. Results: The results showed that Net benefit, BCR and return to labour were significantly (p<0.0001) affected by the treatments in both study sites. The FP-sole 40P20NM2.5 was most superior with the highest BCR (2.53) and return to labour (4.1). The sole cropping systems recorded significantly higher BCR and return to labour (USD 1.4 and USD 2.8) than those under intercropping system. The fertilizer combinations (40P20M2.5) had higher BCR and return to labour of USD 1.5 and USD 2.9 as compared to experiment “controls”. The lowest net benefit, BCR (<1) and return to labour was recorded in treatments regarded as experiment “controls” in both study sites. Implication: The results suggests that only low-input technologies with organic inputs are currently suitable and need to be adopted through a known crop intensification technologies that could be enhanced in these drought prone areas of central Kenya Highlands. Conclusion: Conventional tillage (FP) under sole cropping produced better returns on the money invested with minimal nutrient replenishment for producing improved sorghum than with farmers conventional way (traditional practice of no fertilizer input) in drier parts of this study.

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