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IMMEDIATE AND RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF LIME AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON SOIL ACIDITY AND MAIZE PRODUCTION IN WESTERN KENYA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2013

P. O. KISINYO ,
C. O. OTHIENO ,
S. O. GUDU ,
J. R. OKALEBO ,
P. A. OPALA ,
W. K. NG'ETICH ,
R. O. NYAMBATI ,
E. O. OUMA ,
J. J. AGALO  and
S. J. KEBENEY
...Show all authors
P. O. KISINYO*
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya Rongo University College, P.O. Box 103-40404, Rongo, Kenya
C. O. OTHIENO
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
S. O. GUDU
Affiliation:
Rongo University College, P.O. Box 103-40404, Rongo, Kenya Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
J. R. OKALEBO
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
P. A. OPALA
Affiliation:
Maseno University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya
W. K. NG'ETICH
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
R. O. NYAMBATI
Affiliation:
Kenya Forestry Research InstituteP.O. Box 5199-40100, Kisumu, Kenya
E. O. OUMA
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
J. J. AGALO
Affiliation:
Moi University, P.O. Box 3900-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
S. J. KEBENEY
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
E. J. TOO
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
J. A. KISINYO
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
W. R. OPILE
Affiliation:
University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
*
§Corresponding author. Email: kisinyopeter@yahoo.com/dean-agriculture@ruc.ac.ke
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Summary

Soil acidity and phosphorus (P) deficiency are some of the major causes of low maize yields in Kenya. This study determined the immediate and residual effects of lime and P fertilizer on soil pH, exchangeable aluminium (Al), available P, maize grain yield, agronomic P use and P fertilizer recovery efficiencies on a western Kenya acid soil. The treatments were: P fertilizer (0, 26 and 52 kg P ha−1 as triple super phosphate) and lime (0, 2, 4 and 6 tons lime ha−1) applied once at the beginning of the study. A burnt liming material with 92.5% calcium carbonate equivalent was used. Soil samples were analysed prior to and after treatment application. The site had low soil pH–H2O (4.9), available P (2.3 mg kg−1), total N (0.17%), high Al (2.0 cmol kg−1 exchangeable Al and 29% Al saturation). Lime reduced soil pH and exchangeable Al, leading to increased soil available P. Lime at 2, 4 and 6 tons ha−1 maintained soil pH ≥ 5.5 for 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. The study observed that the recommended P fertilizer rate (26 kg P ha−1) for maize production in Kenya was inadequate to raise soil available P to the critical level (≥10 mg P kg−1 soil bicarbonate extractable P) required for healthy maize growth. To maintain soil available P at the critical level where 52 kg P ha−1 and combined 52 kg P ha−1 + 4 tons lime ha−1 were applied, it would be necessary to reapply the same P fertilizer rate after every one and two cropping seasons, respectively. The 4-year mean grain yield increments were 0.17, 0.34, 0.50, 0.58 and 1.17 tons ha−1 due to 2, 4, 6 tons lime ha−1, 26 kg P and 52 kg P ha−1, respectively. Both agronomic P use and P fertilizer recovery efficiencies increased with increasing rates of lime and decreased with increasing rates of P fertilizer. Therefore, combined applications of both lime and P fertilizer are important for enhancing maize production on P-deficient acid soils in western Kenya.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 50 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 128 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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