Kisii & Nyamira County

FARM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK OF KENYA

VOL. II

– Natural Conditions and Farm Management Information –

ANNEX: – Atlas of Agro - Ecological Zones, Soils and Fertilising by Group of Districts –

Subpart A2 Nyanza Province Kisii & Nyamira County This project was supported by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), since 2011 it is GIZ = Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Society of International Cooperation)

Farm Management Handbook of Kenya

VOL. I Labour Requirement, Availability and Costs of Mechanisation

VOL. II Natural Conditions and Farm Management Information

Part II/A WEST KENYA Subpart A1 Western Province Subpart A2 Nyanza Province

Part II/B CENTRAL KENYA Subpart B l a/b Rift Valley Province, Northern (except Turkana) and Southern Part Subpart B2 Central Province

Part II /C EAST KENYA Subpart C1 Eastern Province, Middle and Southern Part Subpart C2 Coast Province

VOL. III Farm Management Information - Annual Publications were planned. The idea changed to Farm Managament Guidelines, produced by the District Agricultural Offices annually and delivered to the Ministry in April

VOL. IV Production Techniques and Economics of Smallholder Livestock Production Systems

VOL. V Horticultural Production Guidelines

Publisher: Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya, in Cooperation with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) VOL. II is supplemented by CD-ROMs with the information and maps in a Geographical Information System. Additionally there will be wall maps of the Agro-Ecological Zones per district group (= the former large districts) for offices and schools.

Layout by Mike Teucher, Trier, Germany. FARM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK OF KENYA VOL. II

Annex: - Atlas of Agro - Ecological Zones, Soils and Fertilising by Group of Districts in Nyanza Province -

Subpart A2

Kisii & Nyamira County

by Dr. Ralph Jaetzold Prof. emeritus of Geography, University of Trier / Germany

Helmut Schmidt Former Farm Management Research Officer from the former German Agricultural Team of the GTZ in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nairobi

Dr. Berthold Hornetz Prof. of Agricultural Geography, University of Trier / Germany Dr. Chris Shisanya Prof. of Agroclimatology, Dept. of Geography Kenyatta University, Nairobi Contributions to the 1st Edition by: C.M. Kang´e & J.G.M. Muasya – assessment of farm management data; Dr. Mechthild Kronen – soil requirements list; Prof. Dr. H. Kutsch – computing of crop-water relations for yield probabilities; F.N. Muchena, B.J.A. van der Pouw, W. Siderius and W.G. Sombroek – basic soil maps; H. Ritz – district climate tables; R. Swoboda – execution of Small Farm Survey; C.G. Wenner & S.N. Njoroge – soil conservation; W. Zettelmeyer – computing farm data. Additional Contributions to the 2nd Edition by: Dr. J. Ahenda & P. M. Maluku, KEPHIS; G. Awinyo (GIZ) – as- sisting R. J. & digitizing of soil maps into GIS; Th. Buettel – support by analyzing remote sensing data; M. Fiebiger – rainfall data analysis, probability calculations, yield probabilities by simulation programs; B. Girkens - final computerized drawing of maps in GIS and other maps; Heike Hoeffler – project coordination in GIZ Nairobi; Ph. Karuri – assistance in the Farm Survey; Ruben Kempf – typing and layout; Elizabeth Kimenyi & Anne Njoroge – coordination of farm survey; Z. Mairura, Senior Ass. Dir. of Farm Business Subdivision; S. N. Maobe (KARI); N. M. Maweu (KARI); Susanne Meissner - water availability & requirement diagrams, typing; M. Mueller – calculation and diagrams of growing periods, ENSO influence; Dr. Anne W. Muriuki & J.N. Qureshi – soil and fertiliser recommendation maps and information; Francis Muthami (GIZ); Dr. Dorothy Mutisya and Dr. J Ochieng – crops and fodder list; Birgit Schmidt – basics for maintaining and regaining soil fertility; Joshua Shivachi & Ch. R. Wambongo– analysing the Farm Survey data using SPSS software; M. Teucher - final computerized drawing of soil and fertilizer maps; Dr. Lusike Wasilwa – horticult. part of the crop list; J. Wieczorek – computerization of maps in GIS; tables and diagrams. PREFACE TO THE ATLAS The internet and CD versions of the handbook have technically a reduction of details: The most important information, the maps, are due to reduction of the 24 MB to the CD-size of 6 MB, not well readable (esp. formulas of the AEZ Subzones and of the soils). Therefore we prepared additional Atlas- CDs for each group of districts, containing the maps of Rainfall, Agro - Ecol. Zones and Subzones, Soils, anhd Fertilizer Recommendations together with the legends. These maps are produced as pdf-files and can be zoomed for easy reading.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for the Support to the First Edition In compiling this Handbook, we have relied on the support of many officers from a variety of institutions too numerous to mention, who made available their data and experience. We would like to thank them for their invaluable assistance. I would also like to thank my colleagues, the Research Officers, the District Land and Farm management Officers, for their cooperation, and a special thank you to those who typed the draft edition. Our particular thanks go to Prof. Dr. Ralph Jaetzold, University of Trier, for his selfless support in compiling this handbook and for his assessment of the natural conditions including land and population. His deep understanding of the needs of agricultural extension officers and farmers was a great asset. Our thanks also to Dr. H. Kutsch, University of Trier, who computerized a large and complex amount of information involved in establishing the AEZs. Many thanks also to the staff of the Geographical Department of the University of Trier, Germany, for their major effort in drawing up maps of outstanding quality, the centrepiece of the work.

Helmut Schmidt Farm Management Research Officer Nairobi, May 1982

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for the Support to the Second Edition In revising this Handbook, various personalities and institutions were relied upon to provide the necessary data required to update the previous data sets. In this regard, we would like to sincerely thank them for their invaluable input in the exercise. Special thanks go to the Ministry of Agriculture staff who undertook the Farm Surveys to elucidate on the fundamental changes that have taken place in farming at the household level. We are indeed very grateful to the people of Germany, who despite their limited financial resources, have continued to support Kenya. Of importance here is the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the German scientists who have been working for Kenya over the years. Last but not least, thanks to Mr. Reimund Hoffmann, the PSDA Coordinator, Nairobi, whose office ably managed the Handbook revision project.

Prof. Dr. Chris Shisanya Elizabeth Kimenyi Professor of Agroclimatology Assistant Director of Agriculture Dept. of Geography FMD, MOA Kenyatta University, Nairobi Kenya Nairobi, January 2009 Nairobi, January 2009

We want to thank very much also Mr. Zachariah Mairura, Deputy Dir. of Agri-Business Dep., for his engaged support of our inquiries in the districts 2009 and 2010.

Prof. em. Dr. Ralph Jaetzold Prof. Dr. Berthold Hornetz Retired Professor of Geography Professor of Agricultural Geography University of Trier, October 2010 University of Trier, October 2010 PREFACE to the Second Edition

Institutional memory is of paramount importance for planning and development. For any research or agricultural extension to be successful, information on the natural farming potential is equally important.

In an effort to consolidate research - extension work of many years, the first edition of the Farm Manage- ment Handbook (FMHB) of Kenya Vol II (Natural conditions and farm management information), which described the conditions of the Kenyan farming community at that time, was produced in 1982/83. The handbook was in three parts i.e.:

A – for Western Kenya (Western and Nyanza provinces) B – for Central Kenya (Central and Rift Valley provinces). C – for Eastern Kenya (Eastern and Coast provinces)

For more than two decades, the handbook has proved very valuable to researchers, planners, extensionists, developers etc. This is a document that has been sought for enormously and hence the need to revise it in order to accommodate the changes that have taken place in our country since the production of the first edition. Some of these include: changes in the administrative boundaries, opening up of new farming areas due to population pressure, etc.

This second edition has been produced on the basis of Provincial administrative boundaries for the six Provinces i.e. Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Eastern and Coast. The information will be availed in hard copies and in CD – ROMS to facilitate updating any future changes.

It is not possible to acknowledge the contribution of all the individuals who made this edition a reality but I need to mention the following individuals:

Thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture officers, especially the Farm Management Division officers at the headquarters (Mrs. E.W. Kimenyi, Mr. F.N. Nderitu, Mrs. H.W. Njoroge, Mrs. A.W. Njoroge, Mrs. A. W. Wanyama, Mr. P.T. Karuri and most engaged Mr. Z. Mairura), and the District staff, for their selfless contribution; Prof. Dr. Chris Shisanya, leader of the revision team, for his tireless efforts and guidance; Prof. em. Dr. Ralph Jaetzold for his enormous knowledge on the definition of the agroecological zones and his great contribution to their mapping; George Awinyo (German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) – Private Sector Development in Agriculture (PSDA)) for his expertise and contribution in the area of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

I also wish to thank the GTZ who have facilitated the production of this edition both financially and by the use of their personnel, specifically the late Prof. Werner van der Ohe who supported the idea of the revision, and Mr. Reimund Hoffmann (GTZ – Team Leader Private Sector Development in Agriculture PSDA), for supporting and taking up the task to completion.

Dr. Wilson Songa, OGW AGRICULTURAL SECRETARY Nairobi, May 2009

KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 1

3.3 KISII & NYAMIRA GROUP OF DISTRICTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS District Page

3.3.1 Natural Potential (R. Jaetzold et al.) 2 Introduction 2 Table 1: Rainfall Figures 3 Annual Rainfall Map (R. J.) 4 Seasonal Rainfall Maps (R. J.) 5 & 6 Table 2: Temperature 7 Table 3: Potential Evapotranspiration 7 Table 4: Climate in the Agro-Ecological-Zones 8 Agro-Ecological Zones Map (R. J.) 9 Agro-Ecological Zones and Subzones - Introduction 10 Agro-Ecological Zones and Subzones (= Legend to the AEZ Map), with Land Use Potentials and Water Availability & Requirement Diagrams (R. J. & B. Hornetz) 10 Soil Map (R. J. & KSS) 13 Soil Distribution, Fertility and Major Characteristics with Legend to the Soil Map (R. J., W. Siderius & KSS) 14 3.3.2 Population and Land (C. A. Shisanya, R. Jaetzold & Bureau of Statistics) see big Vol. A2 3.3.3 Agricultural Statistics (C. A. Shisanya, R. Jaetzold, CBS & Min. of Agric.) see big Vol. A2 3.3.4 Farm Survey (Min. of Agric., Chr. Shisanya & R. Jaetzold) 17 Table 18: Farm Survey Sites Representative of the Dominating Agro-Ecological Subzones and Units 19 Farm Survey Areas Map (R. Jaetzold) 20 3.3.5 Introduction to the Actual Land Use Systems and to the Potential Intensification by Better Farm Management in Dominating Agro-Ecological Subzones (C. A. Shisanya & Min. of Agr.) 21 Tables 21 a–f: Increase of Yields by Better Farm Management 22 UM 1 l/m^m/l of the Coffee-Tea Zone 22 LH 1 p or l^/m of the Tea-Dairy Zone 24 LH 1 p or l^m of the Tea-Dairy Zone 26 LH 2 vl i or l^(m) i of the Wheat/Maize-Pyrethrum Zone 28 UM 1 l/m^m/l of the Coffee-Tea Zone 30 UM 1- LH 1 p or l/m of the Coffee-Tea Zone to Tea-Dairy Transition Zone 32 3.3.6 Fertiliser and Manure Recommendations for Important Agro-Ecological Units 34 Map of Important Agro-Ecological Units & Fertil. Recommendations (R. Jaetzold) 36 Tables 22 a–d: Fertilisers and Manure Recommendations (B. Hornetz) 37 UM 1 p or l/m^m/l, Um B 2 of the Southern Coffee-Tea Zone 37 UM 1 p or l/m^m/l, Um B 2 of the Northern Coffee-Tea Zone 39 LH 1 p or l^m, Uh I+ 1 and Uu Y+ 1 of the Tea-Dairy Zone 41 UM 1 p or l/m^m/l, Um B3 of the Coffee-Tea Zone 43 3.3.7 Final Statements 44 Table 23: Basic needs of a rural family of 5 persons per year (2009) 45 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 2

3.3.1 NATURAL POTENTIAL

INTRODUCTION

The Kisii Highlands may be divided into a few agro-ecological zones only, but most of these are of high potential. This is important, because the district group is very densely populated (some locations have more than 950 people per sqkm). More tea in the Tea-Coffee Zone is one of the development possibilities to support the high population density.

The climate of this group of districts is one of the wettest in Kenya due to the fact, that it is situated in the center of the local convergence of the daily lakewinds with the easterlies during the generally dry seasons in Kenya. Therefore the rainy seasons are extended to a more or less continuous period of water availability. Annual rainfall is not only high, averaging 1200 to 2100 mm, but also reliable (1100 to 1750 reached or surpassed in at least 10 out of 15 years). The rainy seasons of the year are not easy to distinguish because there are normally no real dry seasons in between. First rainy season starts at about middle of February. In August there is a second increase followed by a small third one in November (see Diagram Kisii, D. O.). Some stations record about 10 % decrease of average rainfall since the time of the first Handbook, but here in the high rainfall zone it does not matter. The growing periods in the Tea-Dairy and in the Coffee-Tea Zone are normally permanent. They are dividable into a period of 215 – 230 days (which may be surpassed by late maturing crops), followed by a 135 – 150 days growing period. Rainfall reliability during these periods is high. At least 800 – 1000 mm or more can be expected in the first period, and at least 400 – 700 mm in the following one in 10 out of 15 years.

In the West of the district group, temperatures are higher than those normally found at this altitude, but they reach normal altitude temperatures in the East. The global warming seems to rise the temperatures very significantly, causing an uplift of the altitudinal limits around Nyanza Agricultural Research Station (= Kisii Met. Station) of about 190 m. Such a figure is too high for this relatively short period. It may be partly caused by the increase of abnormities as the exceptional warm years 1998 and 2003. Also the periods are not long enough to exclude short term climatic variations.

Even the aging of the weather hut may have an influence. (More heat absorption due to fading of the white colour.) But an uplift of about 100 m is realistic compared with the other temperature recording stations of neighbouring districts. Humidity of the air is relatively high. Evaporation is low, therefore, normally between 1550 mm (at 2100 m) and 2000 mm (at 1500 m) per year.

The main problem is the exhaustion of the soils. Originally most of them were fertile due to old volcanic layers and basic igneous rocks. Therefore permanent cropping was possible allowing a high population density. But now the nutrients are almost exhausted. Fertilizer can only replace some of them. Organic manure is necessary, obtainable in a hygienic way (even from human excrements) by small biogas installations which would also help to solve the firewood problem. Additionally, planting of deep rooting hedges which “pump” nutrients from deeper soil horizons to the surface like mucuna, crotalaria, tithonia, calliandra and leucaena has proofed a profitable way to increase yields of food crops by mulching the leaves and twigs into the soil (or producing manure from the leaves by stock feeding). KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 3

TABLE 1: RAINFALL FIGURES FROM SELECTED TYPICAL STATIONS HAVING AT LEAST 15 YEARS OF RECORDS Monthly rainfall in mm No. and Name of Agro-Ecol. Kind of Annual Zone and rainfall J F M A M J J A S O N D altitude Station Subzone records mm

9034001 Kisii, UM 1 Average 1700 69 98 108 258 219 147 110 148 150 140 158 103 1740 m District Office p or l/m ^ m/l 66% rel.1 1550 44 75 95 234 189 120 82 131 120 108 109 74

9034005 Kamagambo LM - UM 1 Av. 1640 79 82 150 241 192 116 67 99 142 156 189 128 High Sch. & 1523 m p or l/m ^ m/l 66%1 1498 55 54 128 220 135 85 53 66 126 130 115 109 Training Sch.

9034031 Maturubo F. UM 1 Av. 2005 93 116 155 327 229 188 125 174 162 157 154 127 1680 m Coop. Society p or l/m ^ m/l 66%1 1370 46 59 117 190 130 97 66 97 118 126 82 68

9034032 Morumba F. LH 1 - UM 1 Av. 1810 78 92 156 279 230 167 134 178 168 147 159 130 1890 m Coop. Society p or l ^ m 66%1 1630 44 69 140 213 177 108 78 96 124 118 130 89

9034042 Nyakegogi F. UM 1 Av. 1653 77 69 140 258 191 130 92 129 132 130 182 124 1620 m Coop. Society p or l/m ^ m/l 66%1 1579 49 40 125 230 167 108 56 95 90 104 138 68

9034044 Keroka, Pyrethr. LH 1 Av. 1608 108 117 176 192 133 101 109 121 114 94 210 124 2145 m Res. Sub-Stn. p or l ^ m 66%2 1450 76 80 90 153 98 85 68 78 70 55 120 62

9034046 Nyabomite F. UM 1 Av. 1803 55 82 168 293 168 162 122 160 174 162 159 98 1710 m Coop. Society p or l/m ^ m/l 66%1 1620 30 37 147 230 130 113 75 118 148 130 107 67

9034056 Nyakoe Farmers LM 1 Av. 1846 91 102 158 258 222 120 107 144 176 143 191 132 1500 m Coop. Society p or l/m ^ m/l 66%1 1668 69 79 134 245 205 110 94 122 117 119 145 95

9034065 Nyamira, LH 1 Av. 1802 92 99 168 259 180 138 132 172 150 124 159 119 1930 m D. C’s Office p or l ^ m 66%2 1610

9034072 Kiamokama F. LH 2 Av. 1600 66 90 170 208 180 93 75 125 106 150 217 120 1920 m Coop. Society vl i or l ^ (m) i 66%1 1420 20 35 85 162 110 80 64 81 62 70 125 60

9034080 Kisii, Coffee R. UM 1 Av. 1818 88 90 164 260 225 141 103 138 166 147 176 120 1680 m Sub-Station p or l/m ^ m/l 66%2 1625

9034088 Kisii, Met. Stn. UM 1 Av. 1953 86 76 195 290 253 167 126 150 143 170 196 101 (Nyanza Agr. 1745 m p or l/m ^ m/l 66%1 1772 36 58 166 232 228 137 104 136 122 132 159 82 Res. Stn.)

9034096 Nyamarambe LM 1 p Av. 1631 98 111 157 261 234 89 71 120 106 143 165 127 1520 m Distr. Office p or l/m ^ m/l 66%2 1490

9034101 Kisii Farmer’s UM 1 Av. 1944 110 104 165 263 209 156 123 162 156 153 175 98 1600 m Training Centre p or l ^ m 66%2 1760

9034109 Itibo UM 1 Av. 1762 85 101 135 255 218 153 143 197 186 144 152 93 1830 m Sec. School p or l ^ m 66%2 1590

1 These figures of rainfall reliability should be exceeded normally in 10 out of 15 years. 2 Estimate of this reliability by correlation, no detailed data were available for enough years to GTZ KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 4 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 5 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 6 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 7

TABLE 2: TEMPERATURE DATA Temperature in °C No. and Name of 1 Kind of Belt AEZ 2 Altitude Station records J F M A M J J A S O N D Yr. limits

Nyanza Agr. Res. Mean max. 26.1 27.1 26.9 25.5 25.1 24.6 24.4 24.9 26.0 25.8 25.1 25.3 25.6 LH Stn. Mean temp. 20.9 21.7 21.4 20.7 20.3 19.8 19.5 19.8 20.6 20.5 20.2 20.4 20.5 2060 m 9034088 (= Kisii Met. UM 1 Increase UM 1680 m 0.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.1 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.7 1.0 1.3 1.2 1.2 Stn.) 1982 - since 58 - 76 1575 m 2003 Mean min. 15.8 16.2 16.0 15.8 15.5 15.2 14.6 14.7 15.1 15.3 15.3 15.4 15.4 LM Abs. min. 11.1 11.7 13.3 12.2 13.3 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.1 10.0 10.0

1 AEZ = Agro-ecological zone 2 These altitudinal limits are too high. It is an uplift since 1981 of 190m. Such a figure may be partly caused by the increase of abnormalities as the exceptional warm years 1998 and 2003. The aging of the weather hut may have an influence, too (see introduction). An uplift to 1600 and 2100m seems to be realistic compared with the other regions. But unless we have more evidence the limits in Table 4 were uplifted to 1550 and 2000m only.

TABLE 3: AVERAGE POTENTIAL EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

Average Potential Evapotranspiration ET0 (or named PET) Av. Rainfall No. and Name of Type1 in mm Year in % Altitude Station AEZ J F M A M J J A S O N D Year mm of ET0 Kisii Met. Stn. 9034088 calc. at Nyanza Agr. 139 132 148 123 119 116 124 139 148 158 121 131 1599 1953 122 1680 m Res. Stn. UM 1

1 Type of eruation: calc. (= calculated) by formula of PENMAN & McCULLOCH (1965) with an albedo for green grass 0.2; AEZ = Agro-Ecol. Zone, explaining table see general part. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 8

TABLE 4: Climate in the agro-ecological zones

Agro-Ecological Subzone Altitude Ann. mean Ann. av. Zone 66% reliability of 60% reliability of cereal and in m temperature rainfall rainfall 1 legumes growing period in °C in mm 1st rainy s. 2nd rainy s. 1st rainy s.2 2nd rainy s. Total 3 in mm in mm in days in days in days

LH 1 p or 2000 -2210 18.0 – 16.2 1400-2100 800-1000 400-700 215 or more about 150 365 Tea-Dairy Zone l ^ m

LH 2 vl i or Wheat/Maize- 2000 -2165 18.0-16.5 1300-1500 700-900 350-450 200 or more 130-140 330-350 l ^ (m) i Pyrethrum Zone

UM 1 p or 1550-2000 20.9-18.0 1400-2100 800-1000 450-700 205 or more about 160 365 Coffee-Tea Zone l/m ^ m/l

LM 1 p or L. Midland 1450-1550 21.6-21.0 1480-1600 900-1000 500-700 205 or more about 160 365 l/m ^ m/l Sugar Cane Zone

1 Amounts surpassed normally in 10 of 15 years, falling during the agro-humid period which allows growing of most cultivated plants. 2 More if growing cycle of cultivated plants continues into the period of second rainy season. 3 Only added if rainfall continues at least for survival (more than 0.25 PET) of most long term crops. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 9 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 10

AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES AND SUBZONES - Introduction

Several facts about these zones are already mentioned in the introduction to the natural potential. The situation is good considering the vast extension of humid zones of number one. Here it is again necessary to make clear that the yield percentages given are climatical only, assumed that the place has suitable soils, is well fertilised and manured. Where there is no space for livestock any more, ways must be found to use human excrements and urea but avoiding infections – or hunger will become the overwhelming danger for survival. Optimal crop husbandry is a must too to reach these figures. Due to overpopulation, high yielding horticultural crops have to be considered closely; especially in Kisii District (see Table X).

AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONES AND SUBZONES (Legend to the Map)

LH = LOWER HIGHLAND ZONES LH 1 = Tea-Dairy Zone LH 1 = Tea-Dairy Zone with permanent cropping possibilities, dividable in a long cropping season p or followed by a medium one l ^ m Very good yield potential (av. above 80 % of the optimum) 1st rainy season, start norm. mid of F.: Peas; cabbages, lettuce, spinach, lettuce 2nd rainy season, start norm. mid of Aug./Sept.: M. mat. potatoes1) like Dutch robijn; peas Good yield potential (av. 60-80 % of the optimum) 1st rainy season: Maize H 614, 625 - 629, H 6210 or 6213 (>2100 m), PAN 99 and others (see crop list); med. mat. potatoes like Desirée (~60%)1); late mat. rape seed like Nilla; cauliflower, carrots, leek, kales, endive 2nd rainy season: Garden peas, early mat. potatoes like Annet; carrots, kales, cabbages, beetroot, spinach, celery Whole year, best planting time end of F.: Tea (high quality on deeply weathered soils) Fair yield potential (av. 40-60 % of the optimum) 1st rainy season: Finger millet; onions2) and sweet potatoes (lower places) 2nd rainy season: Leek, lettuce Whole year: Pyrethrum (higher places); plums, passion fruit (lower places) Pasture and forage 0.5-0.7 ha/LU on secondary pasture of Kikuyu grass, well suitable for grade dairy cows; Nandi setaria for better longterm pastures; fodder crops of temperate zone, f. i. clover (see Table XI) LH 2 = Wheat/Maize-Pyrethrum Zone LH 2 = Wheat/Maize-Pyrethrum Zone with a very long cropping season and intermediate rains, vl i or l ^ dividable in a long cropping season followed by a (weak) medium one and i. r (m) i Good yield potential 1st rainy season (to 2nd r. s.), start norm. March: Late mat. wheat like Kenya Bongo (Apr.-O.), late mat. triticale, late mat. maize like H 611D (higher places), H 614, 625 - 629, H 6210 or H 6213, PAN 99 (e. of F./Apr.-S./O.); peas, horse beans; med. mat. potatoes1) (Apr.-Aug.); late mat. sunflower like Kenya White (lower places best), linseed, rapeseed; cabbages, kales, cauliflower, carrots, beetroot, spinach, celery, lettuce 2nd rainy season, start undistinctly around July: M. mat. barley like K. Research (June-O.), m. mat. wheat like K. Tembo (June-O.); linseed; kales, carrots, beetroot, spinach, tomatoes (lower places), celery Whole year: Black Wattle, Pyrethrum, New Zealand Flax (higher places) Fair yield potential 1st rainy season: Finger millet; med. mat. beans like Cuarentino (50-60%, lower places); tomatoes, onions 2nd rainy season: Peas, beans (below 2100 m); e. mat. potatoes like Annet (S.-D.); cabbages, cauliflower, onions, lettuce Whole year: Apples, pears and plums above 2100 m; strawberries, passion fruit (below 2100m) Pasture and forage 0.8-1 ha/LU on Kikuyu and tufted grass pasture; down to 0.6 ha/LU on artificial pasture of Nandi Setaria or Rhodes grass; suitable for grade dairy cows; Louisiana white clover as add. forage (others see Table XI) KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 11

UM = UPPER MIDLAND ZONES UM 1 = Coffee-Tea Zone UM 1 = Coffee-Tea Zone with permanent cropping possibilities, dividable in a long to medium croping p or l/m ^ season followed by a medium to long one (see Diagram Kisii) m/l Very good yield potential 1st rainy season, start norm. end of Feb. to mid March: Late mat. maize like H 6210 & 6213; cabbage like drum head, kales, rinogu2) 2nd rainy season, start undistinctly end of July: M. mat. sunflower like H 8998 Whole year: Tea; passion fruit, guavas Good yield potential 1st rainy season (to 2nd rainy season): Late mat. maize like H 614, 625-29 (March – Sep./Oct.), med. mat. maize like H 623 (up to 1700 m), PAN 67, 99 & 5243, finger millet; m. mat. beans like Cuarentino (except on Acrisols); m. mat. potatoes like Desirée (higher places above 1600 m), sweet potatoes; m. mat. sunflower like Kenya Fedha or Shaba, m. mat. soya beans like Hill; spinach, broccoli, onions, carrots (above 1600 m) 2nd rainy season: E. mat beans like Rosecoco (on light and medium soils), green grams (July-Oct.); sweet potatoes; e. mat. soya beans like Magoye (Aug.-Oct.) or Black Hawk (July-Oct.); kales, onions, broccoli, tomatoes Whole year: Bananas, taro, yams, cassava mountain pawpaws, winged beans2, loquats, avocadoes Fair yield potential 1st rainy season: High alt. sorghum; m. mat. beans like Cuarentino on Acrisols 4); tomatoes 2nd rainy season: Med. mat. maize like H 513 or H 622, even H 623 (July-Dec.), high alt. sorghum (Aug.-Feb.), finger millet; Rose coco beans (July-Sep., on heavy soils and Acrisols), Cuarentino beans (July-Nov.), groundnuts; potatoes (higher places), cabbages Whole year: Arabica coffee, citrus, pineapples Pasture and forage Around 0.6 ha/LU on artif. or sec. pasture of star grass; down to 0.12 ha/LU feeding Napier resp. Bana grass, banana stems and leaves, maize stalks, and fodder legumes (Desmodium uncinatum, Stylosanthes guyanensis, Siratro = Macroptilium atropurpureum) UM 2-3 = Coffee Zone (undifferentiated, partly marginal) Potential see Kericho District UM 2 (for higher parts) and UM 3 (lower parts) KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 12

LM = LOWER MIDLAND ZONES LM 1 = Lower Midland Sugar Cane Zone Very small, potential see South Nyanza Group of Districts LM 2 = Marginal Sugar Cane Zone Small, potential see South Nyanza Group of Districts. Late mat. groundnuts and soya beans have good yield potential

1) Spraying against fungus diseases important. 2) Local spinach (Solanum nigrum) 3) Fresh onions mainly (shallots) 4) Wheat or maize mainly depending on farm scale, here more maize KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 13 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 14

SOIL DISTRIBUTION, FERTILITY AND MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS

The majority of the land in these districts belongs to the south-western highlands with undulating topography. Several levels, which are occassionally separated from each other by scarps, can be distinguished. The parent rock is mainly volcanic and outcrops in a few hills. Some hill soils (units H) are extremely shallow (units HQC, HX 2, HY+ 1) while others may be shallow to moderately deep (HB 1). The major soil units in the Kisii Group of districts are upland soils (UmY 1, UuI 1, UmB 2) with topsoils rich in organic matter. These soils have moderately high natural fertility and are intensively farmed. Fertile soils also occur on footslopes in the South-East of Nyamira District, but they may have drainage problems (FY+ 1). Generally the natural fertility becomes exhausted because there is not enough organic manuring. In the northeastern parts of this district, soils of very low fertility (UhY+ 1) are found. In the southeastern corner dark cracking soils (UPY+A, fertile if well drained) occur. A longitudinal zone with soils having a deep organic topsoil (like UuY+ 2) stretches in the East of the group of districts; the latter has a moderate to high natural fertility. In the bottomlands (B) alluvial soils are clayey with distinct changes in texture. They are subject to flooding and poorly drained (BV 2, BV 3).

LEGEND TO THE SOIL MAP

1. Explanation of the first character physiography( )

H Hills and Minor Scarps (hilly to steep; slopes predominantly over 16%; relief intensity up to 100 (Minor Scarps) to 300 m (Hills); altitudes up to 2850 m, here 2300 m) F Footslopes at the foot of Hills and Mountains; gently undulating to rolling; slopes between 2 and 16%; various altitudes) U Uplands Uu Upper-Level Uplands (rolling to hilly; slopes: 8-30%; altitudes between 1800 and 2200 m) Uh Upper Middle-Level Uplands (undulating to rolling; slopes between 5 and 16%; altitudes between 1650 and 2650 m, here 2300 m) Um Lower Middle-Level Uplands (gently undulating to undulating; slopes between 2 and 8%; altitudes between 1200 and 2200 m) Ul Lower-Level Uplands (very undulating to undulating; slopes between 2 and 8%; altitudes between 1200 and 2100 m Up Upland/High-Level Plain Transitional Lands (gently undulating; slopes between 2 and 5%; altitudes between 1650 and 2000 m) B Bottomlands (flat to gently undulating; slopes between 0 and 5%; various altitudes; seasonally ponded) S Swamps (almost flat; slopes between 0 and 2%; various altitudes; permanently waterlogged if not reclaimed) V Minor Valleys (V or U-shaped valleys; slopes mainly up to 16%, exceptionally up to 30%; width mainly 250- 500 m, up to about 1000 m; depth up to about 100 m; various altitudes)

2. Explanation of second character (lithology) Plant Nutrients in Parent Material

A Recent Alluvial Sediments from various sources Many B Basic Igneous Rocks (basalts, nepheline phonolites; older basic tuffs included) Many G Granites and Granodiorites Few I Intermediate Igneous Rocks (andesites, phonolites, syenites, etc.) Many I+ - do – with volcanic ash admixture Very many Q Quartzites Very few V Various Igneous Rocks, unspecified Many X Various Rocks, unspecified Few to many Y Acid Igneous Rocks (syenites, etc.) Few Y+ - do – with volcanic ash admixture Many KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 15

3. Soil descriptions

HB 1 Somewhat excessively to well drained, very shallow to moderately deep, yellowish red to dark reddish brown, friable, gravelly sandy clay to clay; in many places with an acid humic topsoil; in places stony and rocky: dystric, eutric and humic CAMBISOLS and eutric REGOSOLS, partly lithic and stony phases, and LITHOSOLS; with Rock Outcrops HQC Complex of: Somewhat excessively drained, very shallow to shallow, dark brown, gravelly sandy loam to clay loam, in many places with an acid humic topsoil: RANKERS; with LITHOSOLS and Rock Outcrops HX 2 Excessively drained, very shallow to shallow, yellowish red to dark brown, stony and rocky, gravelly sandy loam to clay: LITHOSOLS and RANKERS, stony and rocky phases HY+ 1 Somewhat excessively drained, very shallow to shallow, dark reddish brown, gravelly clay with an acid humic topsoil RANKERS with ando-haplic PHAEOZEMS, lithic phase and LITHOSOLS Ul G 12 Well drained, deep, reddish brown, friable sandy loam to sandy clay loam, with an acid humic topsoil; in many places shallow to moderately deep over pisoferric material or petroplinthite: humic ACRISOLS, partly piso- and petroferric phases Ul Y 3 Well drained, moderately deep to deep, brown to reddish brown, friable, gravelly clay loam to clay; predominantly with a humic topsoil; in places shallow over weathering rock: luvic PHAEOZEMS and orthic LUVISOLS, partly paralithic phase Ul YC Complex of: Somewhat excessively to well drained, shallow to deep, brown to reddish brown, friable, gravelly loam to clay, over weathering rock; predominantly with a humic topsoil; in places shallow over weathering rock: luvic and haplic PHAEOZEMS, paralithic phases, with orthic LUVISOLS UpY+ A Association of: poorly drained, deep to very deep, very dark grey, very firm, cracking clay; in many places abruptly underlying a topsoil of friable loam, on flat parts (50%): chromic VERTISOLS and eutric PLANOSOLS and: well drained, moderately deep, dark reddish brown, firm clay loam, with a humic topsoil; on sloping parts (50%) chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS BV 2 Poorly drained, deep, grey to light olive brown, mottled, firm clay, underlying a thick topsoil of silt loam; with inclusions of peaty soils: eutric PLANOSOLS, with dystric HISTOSOLS BV 3 Very poor drained, deep, acid peat to peaty clay, overlying half-ripe, dark olive to black clay: dystric HISTOSOLS BX 1 Imperfectly to poorly drained, deep to very deep , dark grey to grayish brown, mottled, firm sandy clay to cracking clay; in places with a peaty topsoil; in places with a calcareous subsoil: eutric and vertic GLEYSOLS, with mollic GLEYSOLS BX 6 Imperfectly to poorly drained, deep to very deep, very dark grey to very grayish brown, mottled, firm sodic clay, in many places abruptly underlying a topsoil of friable, sandy loam to clay loam, in places moderately well drained: solodic PLANOSOLS, with gleyic and orthic SOLONETZ BX 8 Imperfectly drained, deep, dark grey, very firm clay, abruptly underlying a topsoil of friable loamy sand to sandy loam: eutric PLANOSOLS SAC 1 Complex of: Imperfectly to poorly drained, deep to very deep, greyish brown to very dark grey and black, mottled, firm to very firm clay to cracking clay; in places with a saline and sodic subsoil eutric GLEYSOLS and pellic VERTISOLS, partly saline-sodic phase and: very poorly drained, deep, dark grey to black, half-ripe clay, with a humic or histic topsoil; in many places peaty mollic GLEYSOLS and dystric HISTOSOLS RANKERS and LITHOSOLS KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 16

FB 1 Well drained, deep to very deep, dark reddish brown, friable clay, with a humic topsoil; in places shallow to moderately deep and rocky: chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS, partly lithic and rocky phase, with mollic NITISOLS FQ 1 Well drained, deep to very deep, reddish brown to yellowish red, friable sandy loam to clay with an acid humic topsoil: humic ACRISOLS, with luvic ARENOSOLS FY+ 1 Moderately well to imperfectly drained, deep, dark reddish brown, mottled, friable clay loam with a humic topsoil; deeper subsoil of compact clay: gleyic PHAEOZEMS Uu I 1 Well drained, extremely deep, dark red to reddish brown, friable clay, with a thick humic topsoil: mollic NITISOLS UuQ 1 Well drained, deep to very deep, reddish brown, friable clay, with an acid humic topsoil: h u m i c FERRALSOLS UuY+ 1 Well drained, deep to extremely deep reddish brown, friable clay, with a thick humic topsoil: humic to dystro-mollic NITISOLS and chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS UuY+ 2 Well drained, deep to very deep, dark reddish brown, friable and slightly smeary silty clay loam, with a thick humic topsoil: ando-luvic PHAEOZEMS Uh I+ 1 Well drained, very deep to extremely deep, reddish brown, friable clay, with a thick (acid) humic topsoil: humic to dystro-mollic NITISOLS UhY+ 1 Well drained, very deep, dark red to dark reddish brown, friable sandy clay to clay; in places moderately deep to deep nito-rhodic FERRALSOLS UmB 2 Well drained, extremely deep, dark red, friable clay, with a thick humic topsoil: mollic NITISOLS UmB 3 Well drained, deep to extremely deep, dark red, friable clay, with a thick humic topsoil; in many places moderately deep over pisoferric material: chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS, partly pisoferric phase and mollic NITISOLS UmG 9 Well drained, deep, dark red, friable clay, with an acid humic topsoil: humic ACRISOLS Um I 2 Well drained, very deep, reddish brown to red, friable clay, with a thick acid humic topsoil: nito-humic FERRALSOLS UmY 1 Well drained, deep to extremely deep, reddish brown, friable clay, with a humic topsoil: chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS and mollic NITISOLS Ul B 1 Well drained, moderately deep to deep, red, friable to firm clay, with a humic topsoil; over piso- or petroferric material; in places shallow: chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS, pisoferric or petroferric phase VXC Complex of: well drained, shallow to deep soils of varying colour, consistence and texture (on valley sides) CAMBISOLS, ACRISOLS and FERRALSOLS, partly lithic phases and: imperfectly to poorly drained, deep, mottled soils with predominantly greyish colours, firm consistence and fine textures (in valley bottoms) GLEYSOLS, with VERTISOLS and HISTOSOLS

Notes for definitions (of underlined words): mollic Nitisols and chromo-luvic Phaeozems: soils are equally important mollic Nitisols, with chromic-luvic Phaeozems: Nitisols are prevalent in places: in < 30% of the area in many places: in 30-50% of the area predominantly: in > 50% of the area deeper subsoil: below 80 cm KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 17

3.3.2 POPULATION AND LAND see main Volume Nyanza Province

3.3.3 AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS see main Volume Nyanza Province KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 18

3.3.4 FARM SURVEY IN KISII & NYAMIRA GROUP OF DISTRICTS

The farm survey (FS 2004) was carried out in six sites covering the AEZs (LH 1&2) and (UM 1) representing different Subzones (see Table 18). The data collected during the FS 2004 on various agricultural aspects are presented in Tables 19 a-f, while the cropping patterns reported are shown in Tables 20 a-f. The data in the Tables reveal the following key points: In the upper zone (LH 1) of former Kisii and Gucha districts, the farm sizes are small with an average farm size around one ha per household. The zones are endowed with deep, well-drained, relatively fertile soils with good rainfall. Some food crops are grown and the main cash crop is tea. Dairy animal production can also do well here. Most of the farms in this zone and the lower one have soil conservation structures. In the lower zone (UM 1) the average farm sizes are still a bit larger. They average around 1.5 ha per household in the survey but totally they are smaller (see Chapter 3.3.2). The main cash crop grown is tea while the food crops include maize, beans and sweet potatoes. The soils are of good fertility and drainage but overused. The resource poor farmers in Kisii group of districts encounter numerous problems, which contribute to low crop and livestock productivity. These include: continuous cropping on less fertile land, nonuse of the recommended manures, fragile easily erodible soils, poor crop and animal husbandry. Poor soil management practices, use of unimproved low yielding crop varieties and livestock breeds have culminated to low living standard. It is strongly recommended that farmers in this region embrace sustainable agriculture in order to increase the per capita land productivity.

Sustainable agriculture offers solutions to some of these aforementioned problems observed in Kisii group of Districts. These can be summarized as follows: • Improved soil fertility Conventional farming methods rely on artificial fertilisers to maintain fertility. Sustainable agriculture uses a range of techniques to maintain and improve soil fertility: organic fertilisers, mulching, cover crops, agroforestry, crop rotation and multiple cropping. • Better pest control Conventional farming uses chemical pesticides to control pests. These are expensive and often result in the emergence of new pests or the resurgence of the very pests they are trying to control. Sustainable agriculture instead uses integrated pest management approaches: a combination of natural enemies, crop rotations and mixtures and biological control methods. These methods cost less than the pesticides, and do not result in pest resurgence. • Controlling erosion Sustainable agriculture includes a palette of techniques to conserve precious topsoil and prevent it from being washed or blown away. These include using contour bunds, contour planting, check-dams, gully plugs, and maintaining cover crops or mulch to protect the soil from heavy rainfall. • Reliance on local inputs Farmers often do not realize the value of the inputs they have immediately to hand. They include manure from their animals (which very often is wasted in conventional systems), vegetation from roadsides and the field boundaries (used as mulch or to make compost), and local varieties of crops (many of which are ideally adapted to local conditions but which have been half-forgotten in the rush to adopt modern varieties). • Indigenous knowledge An important local input is the people’s own knowledge. Local people are experts on the plants, animals, soils and ecosystems they are surrounded by and on which they depend. Sustainable agriculture draws on this wealth of knowledge, and encourages local people to use it, test it, and promote what works best. • Local organizations and initiative Equally important are the energy and capacity of local people to organize and cooperate to solve their own problems. Unlike conventional extension agencies, organizations that promote sustainable agriculture spend at least as much time in helping farmers organize as they do in teaching farming technologies. Ironically, many sustainable agriculture approaches are very similar to the techniques traditionally used by farmers before the advent of “modern” farming. That does not mean, though, that sustainable agriculture turns its back on modern inputs or ideas. Many types of sustainable agriculture use modern high-yielding crop varieties and artificial fertilisers wherever appropriate. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 19

TABLE 18: FARM SURVEY SITES IN KISII GROUP OF DISTRICTS Representative of the Dominating Agro-Ecological Zones, Subzones and Units Agro-Ecological Unit District No. in Farm Survey Site 2004 Kenya AEZone Subzone Soil Unit Mosocho Division, Bogeka Location, Gesoni Sub- 58 UM 1 l/m^m/l UmB 2 location Kisii + Masaba Division, Nyaribari Masaba Location, 59 LH 1 l^m Uh l Ibanchore and Kerema Sub-locations.

+ Manga Division, North Kitutu Location, Nyambaria 60 LH 1 l^m UuY 1 Sub-location. Nyamira + Borabu Division, Nyansiongo Location, Nyansiongo 61 LH 2 l^(m) i UhY 1 Sub-location. Ogembo Division, Sengera Location, Nyaisero Sub- 62 UM 1 l/m^m/l UmB 3 location. Gucha Sameta Division, Bassi Bointagare, Location, Igare 63 UM 1 l/m^m/l BV 2 Sub-location.

Tables 19 a - f: ASSETS LAND USE, FARMING INTENSITY AND INPUTS see main Volume Nyanza Province Tables 20 a - f: CROPPING PATTERN see main Volume Nyanza Province KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 20 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 21

3.3.5 INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTUAL LAND USE SYSTEMS AND POTENTIAL INTENSIFICATION BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN DOMINATING AGRO- ECOLOGICAL SUBZONES

In order to realize the main task of the farm management, a question targeting specifically the inputs used by farmers and resultant increase in yields was included in the Small Farm Survey questionnaire that was conducted. In each survey area the purposively sampled 30 farmers were divided into 3 groups: one group applying low inputs, a second one medium inputs, and a third one high inputs. The difference between these groups shows the amount of yields that can be realistically achieved by the farmers practising better farm management. The column with the yield potential finally shows figures under optimal soil conditions, water supply, crop husbandry and pest control, which is the ultimate goal of any farmer. In fact it has to be realized that in many survey areas a special group of farmers was selected to show the situation in a more positive light. But by this way it loses the representativeness: For instance in Table 21a the average maize yield is 5470 kg/ha. The area should be representative for most of Kisii Central District but the average maize yield there is 2700 kg/ha only.

More detailed information can be found together with calculations of profitability in the Farm Management Guidelines of each district. The tables there are not yet connected with the suited Agro-Ecological Units which is necessary for the expected yields and the amount of inputs. The amount of fertiliser per soil unit is advised in MURIUKI & QURESHI: Fertiliser Use Manual, KARI 2001, more detailed in Chapter 3.3.6 here. An additional important reference material is the “Small Holder Farming Handbook for Self- employment”, first published in 1997 by Information Research and Communication Centre (IRACC) & Marketing Support Services Ltd, Nairobi.

FORMER KISII DISTRICT

Subzone UM 1 l/m^m/l of the Southern Coffee - Tea Zone

This is the Upper Midland Coffee- Tea Zone with a long to medium cropping season followed by a medium to long one as typified by Gesoni A Sub-location in Kisii Central District. The predominant soil type in this subzone is mollic NITISOLS. The rainfall amount is less variable and hence reliability is not a critical problem. The first rainy season can expect an amount of more than 800 – 1000 mm in 10 out of 15 seasons; the second rainy season > 450 – 700 mm. The 60% reliability of cereal and legumes growing periods during the 1st and 2nd seasons is more than 190 and about 160 days, respectively.

Currently, the crops grown in order of importance during the first rainy season are: maize and beans intercrop, sole maize, kales, sugar cane (chewing), sweet potatoes, finger millet and onions. During the second rainy season, a similar crop mix is repeated, i.e. maize and beans, kales, finger millet, onions and sole maize. The permanent crops cited include: tea, coffee, cooking bananas and Napier grass (see Table 20a).

It is evident from the survey that few farmers use the required farm inputs to improve soil fertility. This explains the reduced land productivity in this subzone (Table 14). However, there is potential for sustainable productivity if farmers replenish the nutrients that are mined from the soil every season. An example of such initiatives in this subzone is illustrated for the maize crop in Table 21a. It can also be noted that the peak for maize yields is almost reached, more N, P and manure do not bring more maize. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 22

TABLE 21a: INCREASE OF YIELDS BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL UNIT1) UM 1, l/m^m/l, UmB 2 Subzone: l/m^m/l, Soil Unit: UmB 2 Survey area 58 (Gesoni A.) AEZ: UM 1 COFFEE – TEA ZONE Subzone: l/m^m/l (Periods in days2): 1st rainy season 190 or more, 2nd rainy season ca. 160 days) Crop Yields3) and Inputs Unit with predom. Soil: UmB 2 = mollic NITISOLS

Reliable rainfall: 1st rainy season more than 2nd rainy season: > 450 –700 mm in 800 – 1000 mm in at least 10 out of 15 years Farmers in Prod. Level Farmers in Prod. Level I= II= III= AEU I= II= III= AEU Maize local 4) 5) 6) 4) 5) 6) monocropped low med. high Pot. low med. high Pot. Yields3) kg/ha ------* Fertiliser7): N kg/ha ------P2O5 kg/ha ------K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha. ------Hybrid maize Yields3) kg/ha 3075 7509 7800 8500 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 20 40.5 45.0

P2O5 kg/ha 20 40.0 45.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 5.0 8.0 10.0 Maize local Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3033 5673 - * 3500 5030 - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10 20.0 - 25 30.0 -

P2O5 kg/ha 10 25.0 - 25 30.0 - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 4.0 6.0 - 5.5 7.0 - Maize hybrid Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 4040 7756 7225 8000 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 27 40.0 45.0

P2O5 kg/ha 27 40.0 45.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 6.5 7.5 9.5

Notes 1)Source: Interview of 30 farmers (if possible 10 in each level) 2004 by Divisional and Field staff 2)Figures of these cereals growing periods should be reached or surpassed in 6 out of 10 years; growing periods may be considered longer due to immediately following second rainy season by middle rains. Then the second growing period is shorter than the given figures 3)Achieved average yields with average rainfall 4)Farmers with medium inputs 5)Farmers with high inputs of fertiliser, insecticides, soil and water conservation 6)Potential yield according to crop list and local climate of this Agro-Ecological Unit if soils are optimally fertilized, plus optimal crop management 7)Fertiliser applications are averaged at normally 20 % of pure nutrient *Potential for local maize not known; no experimental results KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 23

Subzone LH 1 p or l^m of the Tea - Dairy Zone

This is theLower Highland Tea - Dairy Zone with permanent cropping possibilities, dividable in a long cropping season followed by a medium one as typified by Ibanchore and Kerema Sub-locations in former Kisii District, now South Masaba District. The predominant soil type in this subzone is humic to dystro-mollic NITISOL. The rainfall amounts are high and hence reliability is a not a critical problem. The first rainy season can expect an amount of more than 800 – 1000 mm in 10 out of 15 seasons; the second rainy season > 400 – 700 mm. The 60% reliability of the growing periods during the 1st and 2nd seasons is more than 205 and about 150 days, respectively.

The cropping enterprises that dominate this subzone during the first rainy season in order of importance include: maize and beans intercrop, sole maize, finger millet, indigenous vegetables, Irish potatoes and pyrethrum, which is not profitable anymore after the extracting factory burned down. During the second rainy season, a similar crop mix is grown, i.e. maize1) and beans intercrop, sole maize1), finger millet, indigenous vegetables and Irish potatoes. The permanent crops listed as grown by farmers in this subzone include: tea, trees (for timber and fuel), cooking bananas in the lower parts and Napier grass (see Table 20b). The tea acreage is small because of the severe land shortage.

Although farmers strive to add external inputs to the exhausted soil of this subzone, the use of correct application rates is still doubtful. With proper use of suitable external farm inputs and at the recommended application rates, substantial crop yields can be expected. This is clearly demonstrated by maize crop grown in this subzone as exemplified in Table 21b. The yields in production levels II and III are already impressive.

1) Mainly late maturing hybrid maize growing from first to second rainy season, therefore the acreages are the same (Table 20b) and there are no figures for the second rainy season in Table 21b. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 24

TABLE 21b: INCREASE OF YIELDS BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL UNIT1) LH 1, p or l^m, Uh l+ Subzone: p or l^m, Soil Unit: Uh l+ Survey area 59 (Ibanchore and Kerema) AEZ: LH 1 TEA-DAIRY ZONE Subzone: l^m (Periods in days2): 1st rainy season 205 or more, 2nd rainy season ca. 150 days) Crop Yields3) Unit with predom. Soil: Uh 1+ = humic to dystro-mollic NITISOLS and Inputs Reliable rainfall: 1st rainy season more than 2nd rainy season: > 400 – 700 mm in 800 – 1000 mm in at least 10 out of 15 years Farmers in Prod. Level Farmers in Prod. Level I= II= III= AEU II= III= AEU Maize local 4) 5) 6) I=low 4) 5) 6) monocropped low med. high Pot. med. high Pot. Yields3) kg/ha ------Fertiliser7): N kg/ha ------P2O5 kg/ha ------K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha ------Hybrid maize Yields3) kg/ha 3500 6000 7000 8500 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10.0 25.0 35.0

P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 20.0 35.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 2.0 5.0 9.0 Maize local Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 2500 * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 5.0

P2O5 kg/ha - K2O kg/ha - Manure t/ha 3.0 Maize hybrid Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3000 5871 6800 7800 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10.0 24.5 30.0

P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 15.8 30. K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 2.0 4.0 8.0

Notes

1)Source: Interview of 30 farmers (if possible 10 in each level) 2004 by Divisional and Field staff 2)Figures of these cereals growing periods should be reached or surpassed in 6 out of 10 years; growing periods may be considered longer due to immediately following second rainy season by middle rains. Then the second growing period is shorter than the given figures 3)Achieved average yields with average rainfall 4)Farmers with medium inputs 5)Farmers with high inputs of fertiliser, insecticides, soil and water conservation 6)Potential yield according to crop list and local climate of this Agro-Ecological Unit if soils are optimally fertilized, plus optimal crop management 7)Fertiliser applications are averaged normally at 20 % of pure nutrient *Potential for local maize not known; no experimental results KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 25

FORMER NYAMIRA DISTRICT

Subzone LH 1 p or l^m of the Tea - Dairy Zone

This is the Lower Highland Tea - Dairy Zone with permanent cropping possibilities, divided in a long cropping season followed by a medium one as typified by Nyambaria Sub-location in Nyamira District. The predominant soil type in this subzone is humic to dystro-mollic NITISOLS and chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS. The rainfall amount is high and not very variable and hence reliability is not a serious problem. The first rainy season can expect an amount of more than 800 – 1000 mm in 10 out of 15 seasons; the second rainy season > 400 – 700 mm. The 60% reliability of the growing periods during the 1st and 2nd seasons is more than 205 and about 150 days, respectively.

During the first rainy season, the following crops are grown in order of their importance: maize and beans intercrop, finger millet, kales, sweet potatoes and onions. Similar crop mix is grown during the second rainy season. The permanent crops grown include: tea, Napier grass and cooking bananas (see Table 20c), the latter are possible in the lower places of the LH belt due to the global warming. This being a dairy subzone, the dominance of Napier grass is understandable. Recently there is also a tendency to plant fruit bananas for the Nairobi market.

Attempts to apply external inputs on cropland in this subzone have significantly positive yield increases. This is well demonstrated for maize crop by farmers from three different categories of resource endowment in Table 21c. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 26

TABLE 21c: INCREASE OF YIELDS BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL UNIT1) LH 1, p or l^m, UuY+ 1 Subzone: p or l^m, Soil Unit: UuY+ 1 Survey area 60 (Nyambaria) AEZ: LH 1 TEA – DAIRY ZONE Subzone: p or l^m (Periods in days2): 1st rainy season 205 or more, 2nd rainy season ca. 150 days) Crop Yields3) Unit with predom. Soil: Uu Y+ 1 = humic to dystro-mollic NITISOLS and chromo-luvic and Inputs PHAEOZEMS Reliable rainfall: 1st rainy season > 800 – 1000 2nd rainy season: > 400 – 700 mm in mm in at least 10 out of 15 years Farmers in Prod. Level Farmers in Prod. Level I= II= III= AEU I= II= III= AEU Maize local 4) 5) 6) 4) 5) 6) monocropped low med. high Pot. low med. high Pot. Yields3) kg/ha 7) ------Fertiliser : No sole N kg/ha ------cropping P2O5 kg/ha ------of maize K2O kg/ha ------reported Manure t/ha. ------Hybrid maize Yields3) kg/ha ------Fertiliser7): No sole N kg/ha ------cropping P O kg/ha ------of maize 2 5 - K2O kg/ha - - - - - reported Manure t/ha ------Maize local Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 1550 4050 - * 1200 3800 - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha - 10 - - 8.0 -

P2O5 kg/ha 5.0 10 - 3.0 7.0 - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 2.5 4.0 - 1.5 3.0 - Maize hybrid Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 2019 4890 7800 8500 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10.0 20.0 35.0

P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 20.0 40.5 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 4.0 6.0 9.0

Notes

Subzone LH 2 vl i or l^(m) i of the Maize/Wheat - Pyrethrum Zone

This is the Lower Highland Maize/Wheat - Pyrethrum Zone with a very long cropping season and intermediate rains, dividable in a long cropping season followed by a (weak) medium one and intermediate rains as typified by Nyansiongo Sub-location in Nyamira district. The predominant soil type in this subzone is an association of chromic VERTISOLS and eutric PLANOSOLS and chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS. The rainfall amount is variable but only in the second rainy season reliability is a problem. The first rainy season can expect an amount of more than 700 – 900 mm in 10 out of 15 seasons; the second rainy season > 350 – 450 mm. The 60% reliability of the growing periods during the st1 and 2nd seasons is more than 200 and 130 – 140 days, respectively.

Although this is the Wheat – Pyrethrum Subzone, no farmer reported growing any of these crops. Wheat is not suitable for small-scale farmers without machinery, and pyrethrum was out when the extracting factory burnt down. This is a further testimony of the changing cropping matrices that are continuously taking place in these zones as noted elsewhere in this volume. Farmers prefer to grow crops that have a quick economic return as opposed to those whose returns are unreliable. The current crops grown during the long rainy season in order of importance are: finger millet, sole maize, maize and beans intercrop, sole beans and a bit chewing sugarcane. During the second rainy season, the following crops are grown: sole maize, sole beans, maize and beans intercrop and finger millet. The permanent crops grown include tea although it is not the optimal zone but the leaves earn cash immediately, and in lower places grow some cooking bananas (see Table 20d).

There is evidence that farmers are applying fertiliser to their crop lands. However, it is doubtful ifthe correct application rates are strictly being followed. For those farmers applying external inputs to the soil, the returns could be substantial compared to those applying no inputs. Using maize as a test crop, the yield responses to additional fertiliser and manure inputs are illustrated in Table 21d (Although the 6120 kg/ha in the second rainy season seem to be doubtfully high. Maybe it is a recording error, 5120 kg/ha seem to be a possible maximum). KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 28

TABLE 21d: INCREASE OF YIELDS BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL UNIT1) LH 2, vl i or l^(m)i, UpY+ A Subzone: vl i or l^(m) i, Soil Unit: UpY+A Survey area 61 (Nyansiongo) AEZ: LH 2 WHEAT/MAIZE – PYRETHRUM ZONE Subzone: vl i or l^(m) i (Periods in days2): 1st rainy season 200 or more, 2nd rainy season 130-140 days) Crop Yields3) Unit with predom. Soil: UpY+ A = association of chromic VERTISOLS and eutric and Inputs PLANOSOLS and chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS Reliable rainfall: 1st rainy season more than 2nd rainy season: > 350 – 450 mm in 700 – 900 mm in at least 10 out of 15 years Farmers in Prod. Level Farmers in Prod. Level I= II= III= AEU I= II= III= AEU Maize local 4) 5) 6) 4) 5) 6) monocropped low med. high Pot. low med. high Pot. Yields3) kg/ha - 4603 - * - 6120 - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha - 30.0 - - 40.0 -

P2O5 kg/ha - 20.0 - - 30.0 - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha. - 3.5 - - 5.0 - Hybrid maize Yields3) kg/ha 3760 5292 7314 9000 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 17.0 30.0 40.7

P2O5 kg/ha 19.0 30.0 46.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 2.5 4.5 7.0 Maize local Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3495 4000 - * 3000 4362 - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 20.0 29.4 - 20.0 35.9 -

P2O5 kg/ha 17.6 26.9 - 20.0 32.7 - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 2.7 3.0 - 2.0 3.5 - Maize hybrid Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3857 5716 7200 8400 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 18.4 32.0 35.0

P2O5 kg/ha 19.0 30.7 35.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 3.0 5.0 6.0

Notes

FORMER GUCHA DISTRICT

Subzone UM 1 l/m^m/l of the Coffee - Tea Zone

This is the Upper Midland Coffee – Tea Zone with a long to medium cropping season followed by a medium to long one as typified by Nyaisero Sub-location in the present, reduced Gucha district. The predominant soil types in this subzone are chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS, partly pisoferric phase, and mollic NITISOLS. The rainfall amount is less variable and hence reliability is not a problem. The first rainy season can expect an amount of more than 800 – 1000 mm in 10 out of 15 seasons; the second rainy season > 450 – 700 mm. The 60% reliability of the growing periods during the 1st and 2nd seasons is more than 190 and about 160 days, respectively.

Various food and cash crops are currently being grown in this subzone. During the first rainy season, the crops grown in order of importance are: sole maize, maize and beans intercrop, chewing sugar cane, sole beans, tomatoes and kales. The second rains season crops are dominated by the following: maize and beans intercrop, sole maize, tomatoes, sole beans and kales. The current dominant permanent crops in this subzone are: tea, coffee and cooking bananas (see Table 20e).

There is evidence of farmers applying a lot of fertilisers to their soil in order to increase yield because of the land shortage. An example of the expected yield increases in maize crop with varying levels of fertiliser application is well illustrated in Table 21e, under different farmer resource endowment (Although the high rounded figures in level III seem to be wishful estimates). KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 30

TABLE 21e: INCREASE OF YIELDS BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL UNIT1) UM 1, l/m^m/l, UmB 3 Subzone: l^m, Soil Unit: UmB 3 Survey area 62 (Nyaisero) AEZ: UM 1 COFFEE – TEA ZONE Subzone: l/m^m/l (Periods in days2): 1st rainy season 190 or more, 2nd rainy season ca. 160 days) Crop Yields3) Unit with predom. Soil: UmB 3 = chromo-luvic PHAEOZEMS, partly pisoferric phase and and Inputs mollic NITISOLS Reliable rainfall: 1st rainy season > 800 – 1000 2nd rainy season: > 450 – 700 mm in mm in at least 10 out of 15 years Farmers in Prod. Level Farmers in Prod. Level I= II= III= AEU I= II= III= AEU Maize local 4) 5) 6) 4) 5) 6) monocropped low med. high Pot. low med. high Pot. Yields3) kg/ha 3500 4600 - * 3900 5700 - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10.0 25.0 - 12.0 30.0 - P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 15.0 - 10.0 30.0 - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 2.0 3.0 - 3.0 4.0 - Hybrid maize Yields3) kg/ha 4882 5900 7500 8000 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 26.0 32.9 40.0

P2O5 kg/ha 29.0 35.2 40.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 3.5 4.0 4.0 Maize local Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3200 4500 - * 3800 5500 - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10.0 25.0 - 10.0 20.0 -

P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 20.0 - 10.0 20.0 - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 2.0 3.0 - 3.0 4.0 - Maize hybrid Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 4554 5787 7200 7800 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 20.0 30.0 40.0

P2O5 kg/ha 20.0 30.0 40.0 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 3.0 4.0 4.0

Notes

Subzone UM 1 - LH 1 p or l^m of the Coffee - Tea Zone to Tea - Dairy Transition Zone

This is theUpper Midland Coffee – Tea Zone to Tea –Dairy Transition Zone with permanent cropping possibilities, divided in a long cropping season followed by a medium one as typified by Igare Sub-location in former Gucha district. The predominant soil type in this subzone is poorly drained eutric PLANOSOL, with dystric HISTOSOLS. The rainfall amount is less variable and hence reliability is not a critical problem. The first rainy season can expect an amount of more than 800 – 1000 mm in 10 out of 15 seasons; the second rainy season > 450 – 700 mm. The 60% reliability of the growing periods during the 1st and 2nd seasons is more than 210 and about 150 days, respectively.

Arrays of crops are grown in this subzone in both the long and short rainy seasons. During the first rainy season, the following crops in order of importance are dominant: maize and beans intercrop, sole maize, finger millet, sweet potatoes and sole beans. The crops grown during the second rainy season include: maize and beans intercrop, sole maize, finger millet, sole beans and sweet potatoes. The permanent crops, which double as cash crops are tea, cooking bananas and coffee (see Table 20f).

To an extent, there is some evidence that farmers are applying a lot of fertiliser inputs to the soil in order to improve the crop yields. However, the critical issue in this application is whether the correct rates are being used and the timing. Many farmers seem not to apply the correct rates together with sufficient manure and therefore the expected yield increase responses are never realized. This short-coming is widespread in the entire Kisii Group of districts. However, for those farmers making attempts to do the right thing, the results are promising. This is exemplified in Table 21f, using maize as the test crop. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 32

TABLE 21f: INCREASE OF YIELDS BY BETTER FARM MANAGEMENT IN AGRO- ECOLOGICAL UNIT1) UM 1 – LH 1 p or l^m, BV 2 Subzone: p or l^m, Soil Unit: BV 2 Survey area 63 (Igare) AEZ: UM 1 COFFEE – TEA ZONE to TEA-DAIRY ZONE Subzone: p or l^m (Periods in days2): 1st rainy season 210 or more, 2nd rainy season ca. 150 days) Crop Yields3) and Inputs Unit with predom. Soil: BV 2 = poorly drained eutric PLANOSOLS, with dystric HISTOSOLS Reliable rainfall: 1st rainy season > 800 – 1000 2nd rainy season: > 450 – 700 mm in mm in at least 10 out of 15 years Farmers in Prod. Level Farmers in Prod. Level I= II= III= AEU I= II= III= AEU Maize local 4) 5) 6) 4) 5) 6) monocropped low med. high Pot. low med. high Pot. 3) Yields kg/ha 3150 - - * 4550 - - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 15.0 - - 20.0 - - P2O5 kg/ha 12.5 - - 15.5 - - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 2.0 - - 2.0 - - Hybrid maize Yields3) kg/ha 3671 5850 6330 7000 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 20.0 33.0 36.1

P2O5 kg/ha 10.5 28.0 33.3 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 3.0 4.0 5.0 Maize local Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3000 - - * 4200 - - * Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 10.0 - - 15.0 - -

P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 - - 15.0 - - K2O kg/ha ------Manure t/ha 3.0 - - 2.0 - - Maize hybrid Intercropped with beans Yields3) kg/ha 3392 5550 6000 6800 Fertiliser7): N kg/ha 20.0 27.1 30.5

P2O5 kg/ha 10.0 23.2 30.5 K2O kg/ha - - - Manure t/ha 3.0 4.0 4.0

Notes

3.3.6 FERTILISER AND MANURE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPORTANT AGRO-ECOLOGICAL UNITS

The Fertiliser Use Recommendation Project of the GTZ (FURP) from 1986 till 1992 had 3 trial sites in the Kisii group: one at Otamba in Agro-Ecological Zone UM 1 (on mollic Nitisols), representing the Southern Coffee-Tea Zone, one at Kisii NARS in Agro-Ecological Zone UM 1 (on mollic Nitisols), representing the Northern Coffee-Tea Zone, and one at Kiamakoma in Agro-Ecological Zone LH 1 (on humic Nitisols), representing the Tea-Dairy Zone. These soil units are covering most parts of the district group. Recommended rates of an Agro-Ecological Unit (AEU) increase towards the wetter subzones and decrease into the dry ones if the soil unit extends there (see small maps). Generally, we have tended to lower the rates due to the low financial base of the smallholder farmers. If a system could be put in place to give the starter fertiliser on credit, repayable with part of the money obtained from harvest, then higher rates would be used by the farmers. The optimum can be calculated from the yield functions in MURIUKI & QURESHI (2001)1. In the long run the optimal amount must be given to maintain the nutrient content. Some quantities for this can be seen in chapter 3.1 under the ‘General Remarks’ section. Higher application rate recommendations are given in the Smallholder Farming Handbook of the IRACC and MSS, Nairobi 1997, but the economic investment and risk is too high for the local farmers. A rural small credit system for the inputs could help a lot. Where scientific sources for quantifying the rates are lacking, some conclusions can be drawn from the difference of inputs and yields between the low and high production levels of the Farm Survey 2004. An empty column in the recommendation tables denoted as “Other Nutrients Recommended” does not mean that there is nothing to be done but it is because of lack of trial data. Symptoms of deficiencies and methods of addressing these can be found in MURIUKI & QURESHI (2001), Table 1&2, p.22-23. Finally it must be emphasized once more that fertilising alone will increase the yields only for some few years. The micronutrients that are not included in the fertiliser become exhausted very fast. Manuring almost up to the full return of the extracted nutrients is a must in order to have a stable agrobiological system for continuous sustainable production2. This advice is also valid for the fertile volcanic soils in the district, which still have a high nutrient content. This was shown by the example of the Nitisols and Phaeozems on the control plots during the 5 years’ FURP cultivation at Otamba where nutrients decreased significantly3. However, the application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) led to a stabilization, even to an increase of org. C as well as pH and other nutrients (like P and Mg) in the long run; this is also positive for nitrogen mineralization and the improvement of soil physical quality (e.g. water storage capacity and plant available soil water, infiltration, aeration) and of the biological parameters. Over the last years technologies have been developed by KARI Centre Kisii to maintain soil fertility and improve crop yields. So it wa found that maize yields can be imroved up to 200-350% when using a combination of 10 t/ha organic fertilisers (compost, farm yard manure, eventually boma manure from neighbouring Maasailand) with an amount of inorganic fertilisers of only 30 kg/ha N and 30 kg/ha P2O5; this application is also reducing weeds, particulary Striga by about 75 % (KARI Kisii, unpublished paper, March 2009). Due to high prices for inorganic fertilisers small-scale farmers are advised to apply only 50% of the recommended optimum rates within the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) approach4. This results in an increase of about 30% for maize yields; as cover crops farmers sshould intercrop Vetiver and Makarikari grass (in high potential areas: Dolichos lablab and mucuna) to prevent soil erosion (combined with methods of conservation tillage as ripping and pitting). In Kisii District farmers have adopted this technology widely. Good results at KARI Kisii were also obtained from the application of 200 kg Minjingu rock phosphate fertiliser composted for 2 weeks with 5-10 t/ha FYM at planting of maize and vegetables, resulting in an increase of 50-300% for maize yields (acc. to KARI Kisii, unpublished paper, March 2009). Nowadays it is reported that the application of the newly developed Mavuno fertiliser should enhance crop production by 16-40% due to its composition of 10:26:10 NPK enriched with Ca, Mg and other essential micronutrients (acc. to information of Athi River Mining Ltd./ARM, April 2009). By inoculating soyabean with indigenous and introduced (surviving) strains of Rhizobium japonicum soyabean yields in SW-Kenya can be improved by as much as about 50%; so farmers have taken up this technology, too (KARI Kisii, unpublisher paper, March 2009). KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 35

______1 MURIUKI, A.W. & QURESHI, J.N. (2001): Fertiliser Use Manual.- Nairobi 2 Southern China has parts with similar soils to Nyanza Province and stabilized productivity there for hundreds of years by returning the kitchen waste as well as human and animal excrements to the fields. The organic material could be used together with the urea for biogas production first to reduce the hygienic and energy problems. 3 see Chapter 2.5, Table IX 4 Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) = combined use of organic and inorganic fertilisers in a sustainable way affordable to small-scale farmers KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 36 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 37

TABLE 22a: FERTILISER AND MANURE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AGRO-ECOLOGICAL UNITS of the Southern Coffee-Tea Zone UM 1 p or l/m^m/l, Soil UmB 2

Av. Exp. Yield Recommended Average Yield Average Yield Other Crop varieties and + Response- Fertiliser Rates 1 Increase if this Increase if 5t/ Nutrients Season curve Rate is Applied ha Manure are Recom- 2 kg/ha kg/ha ** kg/ha Applied mended First rainy season Hybrid maize (H 625) 3 4181 + 18.8 N + 75 N 1410 400 kg 5 * 0.07 P2 Local maize & beans 5630 + 18.9 N 75 N 1420 (maize) * *

Beans (GLP 2) 731 + 2.7 P 45 P2O5 120 * * 5 Potatoes (Annet) 13294 + 224 P – 30 P2O5 6720 ca. 5000 kg * 1.66 P2 5 Finger millet 1672 + 47.6 P – 65 P2O5 1950 ca. 1500 kg * 0.27 P2 Second rainy season 3 Hybrid maize (H 511) 3271 + 20.9 N 75 N 1570 * * Local maize & beans 4858 + 60.7 N – 40 N 1600 (maize) * * 0.52 N2 + 14.4 P 5 Beans (GLP 2) 633 + 18.9 P – 45 P2O5 650 ca. 500 kg * 0.10 P2 Permanent crops 4 Tea ca. 2500 150 N + 30 P2O5 ca. 4000 * * Coffee uneconomic with present prices

Sources: muriuki, A.W. & qureshi, J.N.: Fertiliser Use Manual.- Nairobi 2001, p.81, 82 & 83, and conclusions from the Farm Survey 2004; Information Research and Communication Centre (IRACC): Small Holder Farming Handbook for Self Employment.- Nairobi 1997, p. 174; KARI (Ed.): Fertilizer Use Recommendations. Vol. 8, Kisii District.- Fertiliser Use Recommendation Project (FURP), Nairobi ca. 1996 1 Effect of P application decreased over the years due to a decrease of the P content of the soil. 2 K application showed no significant effect. Soil tests are recommended regularly to monitor soil pH, N, P, cations and organic C. 3 Maize yields decreased sharply over the years, partly due to management problems (FURP, p. 7). Therefore, rotation with other crops is recommended in order to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. On the other part the decrease of yields is due to the exhaustion of non-given nutrients. 4 IRACC recommends one year after planting 20 gm of NPK (25:5:5) per bush, after 2 years 30 gm, after 3 years 50 gm. 5 Results for maize not very significant (FURP, p. 7), but it is necessary; increase for the other crops significant (estimations according to results of FURP experiments at Kiamokama) * data not available ** The actual conversion of the real nutrient content into commercial fertiliser can be seen in Annex table I, p. 37. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 38 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 39

TABLE 22b: FERTILISER AND MANURE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AGRO-ECOLOGICAL UNITS of the Northern Coffee-Tea Zone UM 1 p or l/m^m/l, Soil UmB 2 (less fertile than in the South)

Av. Exp. Yield + Recommended Average Yield Average Yield Other Crop varieties and Response-curve Fertiliser Rates Increase if this Increase if 5t/ Nutrients Season Rate is Applied ha Manure are Recom- Applied mended 1 kg/ha kg/ha ** kg/ha First rainy season Hybrid maize (H 625) 3469 + 22 N + 34.5 75 N + 2325 200 kg 4 Lime 2 3 P - 0.30 P 25 P2O5 Local maize & beans 2 4163 + 0.38 N2 + 75 N + 2560 (maize) * “ 3 16.8 P 25 P2O5 Second rainy season 4 Hybrid maize (H 511) 2077 + 38.2 N – 50 N + 1800 200 kg “ 2 3 0.46 N + 37.0 P – 25 P2O5 0.43 P2 + 0.31 NP Local maize & beans 2 2152 + 21.6 N + 50 N + 2270 (maize) * “ 2 3 64.3 P – 0.67 P 25 P2O5 Permanent crops Napier grass 5 13284 + 40 N 50 N 2000 * “ 6 Tea ca. 2500 150 N + 30 P2O5 ca. 4000 * “ Coffee uneconomic with present prices

Sources: muriuki, A.W. & qureshi, J.N.: Fertiliser Use Manual.- Nairobi 2001, p.81, 82 & 83, and conclusions from the Farm Survey 2004; Information Research and Communication Centre (IRACC): Small Holder Farming Handbook for Self Employment.- Nairobi 1997, p. 174; KARI (Ed.): Fertiliser Use Recommendations. Vol. 8, Kisii District.- Fertiliser Use Recommendation Project (FURP), Nairobi ca. 1996 1 Soil tests are recommended regularly to monitor soil pH, N, P, cations and organic C. 2 Beans (GLP 2) showed no response to either of the nutrients applied (FURP, p. 15). 3 At sites with low P content: application of P2O5 should be 50 kg/ha. 4 Results for maize not significant (FURP, p. 17) for the moment, but manure is necessary for sustainability. 5 Yields decreased sharply from the third experimental year on (FURP, p. 16). 6 IRACC recommends one year after planting 20 gm of NPK (25:5:5) per bush, after 2 years 30 gm, after 3 years 50 gm. * data not available ** The actual conversion of the real nutrient content into commercial fertiliser can be seen in Annex table I, p. 37. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 40 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 41

TABLE 22c: FERTILISER AND MANURE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AGRO-ECOLOGICAL UNITS of the Tea-Dairy Zone LH 1 p or l^m, Soil UhI +1 and Uu Y+1 & 2

Av. Exp. Yield + Recommended Average Yield Average Yield Other Crop varieties and Response-curve Fertiliser Rates Increase if this Increase if 5t/ Nutrients Season 1 Rate is Applied ha Manure are Recom- Applied mended 2 kg/ha kg/ha ** kg/ha First rainy season

Hybrid maize (H 625) 3109 + 60.4 N - 50 P2O5 1870 1270 kg Lime 0.46 P2 + 0.16 NP

Local maize & beans 2717 + 65.6 P – 50 P2O5 2060 (maize) * “ 0.49 P2

Potatoes (Annet) 10609 + 138 P 75 P2O5 10350 8300 kg “

Finger millet 609 + 18.8 P 15 P2O5 235 * “ – 0.21 P2 Second rainy season

Hybrid maize (H 511) 1473 + 6.2 N + 49.8 40 P2O5 1450 600 kg “ P – 0.34 P2

Local maize & beans 1562 + 56.5 P – 40 P2O5 1410 (maize) * “ 0.53 P2 + 0.22 NP Beans (GLP 2) 225 + 8.9 P - 3 * * “ – 0.05 P2

Potatoes (Annet) 31591 + 94.4 P 75 P2O5 7080 660 kg

Cabbage (S.loaf.) 159 + 965 P 65 P2O5 32730 6700 kg – 7.1 P2 Permanent crops 4 Tea ca. 2500 150 N + 30 P2O5 ca. 4000 * “

Sources: muriuki, A.W. & qureshi, J.N.: Fertiliser Use Manual.- Nairobi 2001, p.81, 82 & 83, and conclusions from the Farm Survey 2004; Information Research and Communication Centre (IRACC): Small Holder Farming Handbook for Self Employment.- Nairobi 1997, p. 174; KARI (Ed.): Fertilizer Use Recommendations. Vol. 8, Kisii District.- Fertiliser Use Recommendation Project (FURP), Nairobi ca. 1996 1 Experiments with N application: Maize responded weakly; the other crops did not respond due to high N content of the soil. 2 Soil tests are recommended regularly to monitor soil pH, N, P, cations and organic C. 3 Beans show very low response to P fertilizer, in particular when grown as an intercrop with maize; possible reasons: stronger competition of maize, lacking micronutrients, inoculation with rhizobia (more experimentation should be performed; FURP, p. 4). 4 IRACC recommends one year after planting 20 gm of NPK (25:5:5) per bush, after 2 years 30 gm, after 3 years 50 gm. * data not available ** The actual conversion of the real nutrient content into commercial fertiliser can be seen in Annex table I, p. 37. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 42 KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 43

TABLE 22d: FERTILISER AND MANURE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE AGRO-ECOLOGICAL UNITS of the Coffee-Tea Zone UM 1 p or l/m^m/l, Soil UmB 3 1

Average Yield Av. Exp. Yield + Recommended Increase if this Average Yield Other Crop varieties and Response-curve Fertiliser Rates Rate is Applied Increase if 5t/ Nutrients Season ha Manure are Recom- 4 2 kg/ha kg/ha ** kg/ha Applied mended First rainy season Hybrid maize (H 512) 2324 + 23.5 N 75 N 1760 190 kg Local maize & beans 3 1383 + 9.97 N - * *

Sorghum (Serena, Seredo) 1700 + 10.2 N + 30 P2O5 940 340 kg 42.8 P – 0.38 P2 Pigeon peas 5 587 + 3.61 P + 0.04 - * * NP Second rainy season Hybrid maize (KCB) 1509 + 36.4 N – 35 N 980 130 kg 0.24 N2 Local maize & beans 3 1087 + 28.1 P + - * * 0.24 NP – 0.30 P2 Sunflower (local white)5 681 + 14.3 N - * * Sorghum (ratoon crop) 3 947 + 5.7 N + 14.0 - * 130 kg P – 0.13 P2 Permanent crops 6 Tea ca. 2500 150 N + 30 P2O5 ca. 4000 * Coffee uneconomic with present prices

Sources: muriuki, A.W. & qureshi, J.N.: Fertiliser Use Manual.- Nairobi 2001, p.84, 85 & 87, and conclusions from the Farm Survey 2004; Information Research and Communication Centre (IRACC): Small Holder Farming Handbook for Self Employment.- Nairobi 1997, p. 174; KARI (Ed.): Fertilizer Use Recommendations. Vol. 14, South Nyanza District.- Fertiliser Use Recommendation Project (FURP), Nairobi ca. 1997 1 The test site showed Striga infestation; therefore, yields generally decreased. When the weed was eradicated, yields increased significantly in the following years (FURP, p. 18). 2 Soil tests are recommended regularly to monitor soil pH, N, P, cations and organic C. 3 Application of P fertiliser is economically too risky under the current economic circumstances (FURP, p. 20); sorghum (ratoon crop) and beans showed little response, beans partly even negative. 4 Yields slightly increased with manure, but the application during the time of the experimentation was not worthy due to high costs of manure (FURP, p. 18). 5 only one year planted in FURP experiments 6 IRACC recommends one year after planting 20 gm of NPK (25:5:5) per bush, after 2 years 30 gm, after 3 years 50 gm. * data not available ** The actual conversion of the real nutrient content into commercial fertiliser can be seen in Annex table I, p. 37. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 44

3.3.7 FINAL STATEMENTS

I. SUSTAINING AND IMPROVING THE SOIL FERTILITY

The nutrients in the soil are the base for plant life and therefore for human life, too. Fertilizer alone cannot help enough because even the lacking of one of the many required nutrients is reducing the yield. Therefore, even although the yield increase by manure is not very convincing at the first glance, it is for the sustainability of the agricultural production necessary to keep the yield increase by fertilizer at the reached level for many years. If there is no manure of animals available it must be delivered by humans. It can be applied hygienically by a kind of ecosan-toilets if about seven pails covered by a glass sheet are used. Urea should be put in an extra pail, mixed with two parts of water given directly to the crops (not touching the vegetables). Regarding the excrements in the pails, after some weeks in the sun most germs or amoebs are killed by the sunrays and heat. One pail (plus rubbish and ashes) per each second day should be carried to the fields, filled in holes or furrows, mixed there with soil for better transfer of the nutrients, and covered with earth to avoid runoff loss would be the easiest way. Better would be more pails and to leave it longer, up to six months. Boma manure could be bought from the adjoining Maasai land. With some investment and if additional dung from livestock is available, basins for biogas are reasonable to be built (four cbm cost about 10 - 15 000 KSh 2009, the minimum size for a household). Schools may have big ones called biodigesters. This program was started by GTZ and is now carried on also by other donors. Tithonia, the bush with yellow flowers, grows very well at the roadsides. Its branches give a very nutrious mulch when deployed on the fields. In AE Zones 4 & 5 of the Nyanza Group of Districts there are calcareous horizons which can be dug out to supply lime to the zones 1 - 3 where it is needed.

II. ENABLING THE FARMERS TO CONTINUE

The productive work of the farmers is the base of all human life. They can only continue if they have at least the comparable minimum income of employees. Otherwise the whole system can collapse (see final table): Most young people will not continue to produce food and cash crops. They run to town in hope for a better life but most of them cannot suceed. Therefore the government should encourage and subsidize farmers as Malawi does it successfully. The majority of farmers in the Kisii group of districts do not have enough land to produce the necessary income (compare the population and land tables with tables 23 and 24). Production must be intensified there, but the capital for the necessary investments cannot come out of the small production. Therefore the National Agricultural Accelerated Input Access Program with its subsidized package of seeds and fertilizers for poor families is a big help. On the other hand, family planning is definitely necessary to avoid further split up of the land which in the Kisii group of districts is already populated far above the carrying capacity. KISII & NYAMIRA COUNTY 45

TABLE 23: BASIC NEEDS OF A RURAL FAMILY of 5 persons per year (prices 2009) 1.Basic Food Cost in KSh 1.5 bags of maize per head x5 = 7.5 x 90 kg = 675 kg Certified seeds 2 000 Fertilizer 3 500 Top dressing 2 400 Other costs 1 000 0.5 bags of beans per head x5 = 2.5 x 90 kg = 225 kg Seeds 1 500 Fertilizer 2 000 Salt, bread, margarine, jam 3 000 Tea 1 000 Milk, eggs, meat from own livestock, vet. cost 1 000 Sugar 7.5 kg per person x5 = 37.5 kg 3 200 Oil 1 800 Drinks (guests, funeral etc.) 5 000 2. Other necessities Soap and Omo 5 400 Clothes 2000 x 5 10 000 Shoes 500 x 5 2 500 Kerosin 5 l/month = 350 x 12 4 200 Wood fuel 2 000 Housing (building depreciation, repairs etc.) 4 000 Furniture 1 000 Radio, TV (incl. batteries), newspaper, books 12 000 Medical care 12 000 x 5 60 000 School requirements 1 000 x 3 3 000 School fees for 1 in secondary school 25 000 Unforseen expenses (transport etc.) 6 000 Social security 10 000 Total necessary money per year: 172 500 KSh

+saving resp. repaying capital for establishing perennial crops ca. 10 000 KSh

Sources: Inquieries by R. Jaetzold 2009 and information from Z. Mairura

TABLE 24: LAND REQUIREMENT FOR THE BASIC NEEDS of a rural family of 5 persons, sample in AEZ UM 1 and lower parts of LH 1 Items Land (ha) Gross margin (KSh, 09) Maize and beans for food 0.4 Homestead and vegetables, cooking bananas, pawpaws 0.1 Grazing and forage for 4 milk goats 0.1 5.000 Established tea 0.4 ca. 50 000 Established bananas for sale (tissue culture) 0.4 ca. 100 000 Sweet potatoes (high management) 0.2 ca. 25 000 Total: 1.6 ha (=4 acres) ca. 180 000 KSh

Sources: Nyamira District Farm Management Guidelines 2009