This project seeks to address the key challenges of soil degradation and related problems of drylands facing most resource-poor farmers and how improved zero tillage could provide a more suitable answer to these problems.
Effect of Improved Zero Tillage on Cereal Crops Performances
This project seeks to address the key challenges of soil degradation and related problems of drylands facing most resource-poor farmers and how improved zero tillage could provide a more suitable answer to these problems.
Objectives
- Identify and use leguminous plants that will smother weeds thus reduce the need and frequencies of weeding while adding biomass and fixing nitrogen to the soil – improved zero tillage farming.
- Reduce need and frequency of shifting cultivation to reduce and stop encroachment of the desert southwards.
- Improve food security opportunities of the stakeholders through higher yield per unit area under better agronomic practices.
Activites
- Identification of on-farm trial sites (Farmers Field Schools) selection and sensitization of the stakeholders
- Collection and multiplication of the leguminous plants (desmodium) at Yei and Halima Research Stations.
- Layout of the trials at the on station and on-farm sites
- Data collection analysis and interpretation
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Dissemination of information through reports, meetings and workshops among the working partners and stakeholders and DCG forum
Expected Results
- Reduced time spent in weeding operations per unit area
- Land planted with desmodium producing biomass that retains moisture leading to healthy plant growth throughout the cultivation season relative to those planted in pure stand.
- Yield per unit area increased due to effect of accumulated biomass and nitrogen fixed by the leguminous plant