Organic EprintsEffect of weather on organic cropping systems in KenyaRhodaBirechauthorBernhardFreyerauthorJuergenFriedelauthorPhilipp LeonhartsbergerauthorRainfall is the single most important factor affecting yield and biomass accumulation by crops as well as residue decomposition in the tropics. The ability to capture this resource in organic systems calls for appropriate techniques. Kenya experiences bimodal type of rainfall with two rainfall peaks; the long (730 mm) and the short (376 mm) rains. Rainfall fluctuations in both seasons are becoming more common in the recent years with a likelihood of crop failure in one out of five years. The question addressed was how to utilize the short rains for food and biomass production. Lablab (Dolichos lablab), a N-fixing legume was sown in the short rains and the seeds harvested. The effect of lablab biomass incorporation on organic maize and potatoes planted in the long rains was evaluated in comparison with farmyard manure application. The 3-year trial showed that dry matter biomass (1.95 t/ha) and grain yield (0.5 t/ha) of lablab was a factor of the amount of rainfall. The amount of lablab biomass applied was proportional to maize grain and potato tuber yields. Similarly, amount of yield and biomass in the long rains was species specific and were a factor of both rainfall amounts and distribution. Farming Systems2008Conference paper, poster, etc.

Deposit Agreement

In depositing this eprint (a collection of files and associated bibliographic metadata), I grant Organic Eprints the right to make it permanently available on-line, with open access to all or in accordance with any access restrictions that I have specified. (Removal of eprints from the public archive is strongly discouraged, but will be granted upon request.)
I understand that Organic Eprints does not assume any responsibility if there is any breach of copyright in distributing these files or metadata.

For work being deposited by its own first author: I declare that this eprint is my own intellectual property and that I have the right to make it available in Organic Eprints in the manner chosen.

For work being deposited by someone other than its first author: I declare that I have gained the proper permissions from someone with the right to make this eprint available in Organic Eprints in the manner chosen - or that the material is in the public domain.

Clicking on the deposit button indicates your agreement to these terms. If you do not wish to deposit the eprint right now you can return to your user area, where you will find this eprint in your workspace. You can then later edit, clone and deposit it.