Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya

While several studies have examined soil fertility management systems under key food and cash crops in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, there is a knowledge gap on soil fertility management under African Leafy Vegetables (ALV) small-holder farming practices particularly in Kenya. The objective o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Enos Onyuka, Godfrey Nambafu, Darius Andika, Samwel Mwonga, Joseph Gweyi -Onyango, Harun Gitari, Franklin S. Mairura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Farming System
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949911925000218
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839614157291257856
author Enos Onyuka
Godfrey Nambafu
Darius Andika
Samwel Mwonga
Joseph Gweyi -Onyango
Harun Gitari
Franklin S. Mairura
author_facet Enos Onyuka
Godfrey Nambafu
Darius Andika
Samwel Mwonga
Joseph Gweyi -Onyango
Harun Gitari
Franklin S. Mairura
author_sort Enos Onyuka
collection DOAJ
description While several studies have examined soil fertility management systems under key food and cash crops in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, there is a knowledge gap on soil fertility management under African Leafy Vegetables (ALV) small-holder farming practices particularly in Kenya. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of agronomic management and socio-economic factors on soil chemical fertility in the major ALV production zones in Kenya. Farm surveys were used to gather socio-economic data, while soil sampling was undertaken in all fields to collect soil chemical data. The findings indicated that Kisii County was characterized by higher proportions of wealthy and more educated farmers, with higher frequencies of input applications relative to Kakamega County. The soil pH was highest in Kenyenya, followed by Gucha, Butere, Mumias, and Khwisero. Gucha and Kenyenya had significantly the highest record of soil carbon concentrations of 3.2 and 3.1 %, respectively compared to other sites, such as Butere (2.0 %) and Khwisero (1.8 %), which had similar soil carbon concentrations, with Khwisero having the least (1.5 %) soil C. The highest mean Zn concentration was recorded in Gucha (6.5 mg kg−1), followed by Kenyenya (6.4), Mumias (4.3), Butere (3.1) and Khwisero (3.0). The study showed that soil fertility under ALV farms in western Kenya was influenced by socio-economic factors and agronomic management factors. In general, the soil fertility status in Kisii County was better, compared to Kakamega County. Soil carbon was significantly influenced by site, soil texture, plot distance, fertilizer sources, and organic and inorganic fertilizer application frequencies. Gucha and Kenyenya Sub-Counties had higher SOC levels, averaging at 1.2 and 1.1 % higher, vis-a-vis Butere Sub-County, while Mumias and Khwisero Sub-Counties had lower average SOC levels in contrast to Butere Sub-County. Site differences can differentiate soil nutrient distribution due to inherent differences in soil characteristics and indirect effects arising from localized soil management practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-cfe944c5574a48c2b874f2d90a4e2fe2
institution Matheson Library
issn 2949-9119
language English
publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Farming System
spelling doaj-art-cfe944c5574a48c2b874f2d90a4e2fe22025-07-26T05:24:49ZengElsevierFarming System2949-91192025-10-0134100157Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in KenyaEnos Onyuka0Godfrey Nambafu1Darius Andika2Samwel Mwonga3Joseph Gweyi -Onyango4Harun Gitari5Franklin S. Mairura6Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (ADTI), Germany; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Department of Plant, Animal and Food Sciences, P.O. Box 210, 40601, Bondo, Kenya; Corresponding author. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (ADTI), Germany.Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Albrecht Daniel Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (ADTI), Germany; Murang'a University of Technology, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences,Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, P.O Box 75-10200. Muranga, KenyaJaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Department of Plant, Animal and Food Sciences, P.O. Box 210, 40601, Bondo, KenyaEgerton University, Department of Crops, Horticulture and Soils, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Egerton-Njoro, KenyaKenyatta University, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 43844, 00100, Nairobi, KenyaKenyatta University, School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 43844, 00100, Nairobi, KenyaUniversity of Embu, School of Agriculture, Department Water and Agricultural Resource Management, P.O. Box 6- 601600, Embu, KenyaWhile several studies have examined soil fertility management systems under key food and cash crops in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, there is a knowledge gap on soil fertility management under African Leafy Vegetables (ALV) small-holder farming practices particularly in Kenya. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of agronomic management and socio-economic factors on soil chemical fertility in the major ALV production zones in Kenya. Farm surveys were used to gather socio-economic data, while soil sampling was undertaken in all fields to collect soil chemical data. The findings indicated that Kisii County was characterized by higher proportions of wealthy and more educated farmers, with higher frequencies of input applications relative to Kakamega County. The soil pH was highest in Kenyenya, followed by Gucha, Butere, Mumias, and Khwisero. Gucha and Kenyenya had significantly the highest record of soil carbon concentrations of 3.2 and 3.1 %, respectively compared to other sites, such as Butere (2.0 %) and Khwisero (1.8 %), which had similar soil carbon concentrations, with Khwisero having the least (1.5 %) soil C. The highest mean Zn concentration was recorded in Gucha (6.5 mg kg−1), followed by Kenyenya (6.4), Mumias (4.3), Butere (3.1) and Khwisero (3.0). The study showed that soil fertility under ALV farms in western Kenya was influenced by socio-economic factors and agronomic management factors. In general, the soil fertility status in Kisii County was better, compared to Kakamega County. Soil carbon was significantly influenced by site, soil texture, plot distance, fertilizer sources, and organic and inorganic fertilizer application frequencies. Gucha and Kenyenya Sub-Counties had higher SOC levels, averaging at 1.2 and 1.1 % higher, vis-a-vis Butere Sub-County, while Mumias and Khwisero Sub-Counties had lower average SOC levels in contrast to Butere Sub-County. Site differences can differentiate soil nutrient distribution due to inherent differences in soil characteristics and indirect effects arising from localized soil management practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949911925000218Soil micronutrientsSoil macronutrientsSoil aciditySmall-scale farmersSoil fertilityHuman health
spellingShingle Enos Onyuka
Godfrey Nambafu
Darius Andika
Samwel Mwonga
Joseph Gweyi -Onyango
Harun Gitari
Franklin S. Mairura
Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya
Farming System
Soil micronutrients
Soil macronutrients
Soil acidity
Small-scale farmers
Soil fertility
Human health
title Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya
title_full Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya
title_fullStr Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya
title_short Biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under African Leafy Vegetable production small-scale systems in Kenya
title_sort biophysical and farm management drivers of soil fertility under african leafy vegetable production small scale systems in kenya
topic Soil micronutrients
Soil macronutrients
Soil acidity
Small-scale farmers
Soil fertility
Human health
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949911925000218
work_keys_str_mv AT enosonyuka biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya
AT godfreynambafu biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya
AT dariusandika biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya
AT samwelmwonga biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya
AT josephgweyionyango biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya
AT harungitari biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya
AT franklinsmairura biophysicalandfarmmanagementdriversofsoilfertilityunderafricanleafyvegetableproductionsmallscalesystemsinkenya