Browsing by Author "Okalebo, J. R."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Conservation agriculture for smallholder farms in Eastern Uganda and Western Kenya
    Norton, James B.; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Norton, Urszula; Ngosia, D. S.; Odhiambo, J. A.; Okeyo, Jeremiah M.; Okalebo, J. R.; Oluko, P. S. (2012)
    Soil quality and crop yield parameters resulting from conservation agriculture practices were evaluated in on-station and on-farm studies established in two highland sites and two lowland sites in the Mount Elgon region of western Kenya and eastern Uganda. Each of the four study areas consists of an on-station and four on-farm sites, each with of three tillage practices (conventional moldboard, no-till, and minimum till); two levels of nitrogen fertilizer (60 Kg N Ha-1 and none); and three cropping systems (traditional maize-beans intercropping, maize intercropped with a bean-Mucuna [Mucuna pruriens] relay, and strip intercropping with maize, beans, and Mucuna in rotation planted in four-row strips) in a factorial design with nine treatments. First and second year results of soil organic matter analyses and crop yields indicate that reduced tillage combined with adding the cover crop to the rotation has begun to improve soil quality and has not negatively impacted yields. Some cooperating farmers have noted improved maize yields following Mucuna and are eager to scale up reduced-tillage and cover crop treatments.
  • Thumbnail Image
    SANREM CRSP LTRA-10: Development and transfer of conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) for smallholder farms in eastern Uganda and western Kenya
    Sikuku, Dominic Ngosia; Omondi, Emmanuel C.; Norton, Jay B.; Okalebo, J. R. (2013)
    The presentation covered the overall objectives and activities of the Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Collaborative Research Support Program (SANREM CRSP) Long-term research award number 10 (LTRA-10). This research program seeks to promote the development and transfer of conservation agriculture productions systems (CAPS) among smallholder farms in eastern Uganda and western Kenya. The partners actively involved in the program are two host country universities, three non-governmental organizations, and two U.S. universities. The presentation included a brief overview of the program objectives and detailed experimental design. Main challenges throughout project implementation were presented, mainly pertaining to the lack of tools, inadequate participation of host farmers, and insufficient information on correct herbicides. Examples of training actives in Tororo during July 2012 were discussed. The positive impacts of the program, such as improvement in how farmers address issues of productivity with climate smart farming, attested to the success of the programs thus far. The project has created a good platform for various stakeholders in the agricultural sector to come together and voice concerns and chart the way forward for agriculture, effectively creating dialogue that leads capacity building and change.