crop yield

Humic acid boosts harvests by enhancing essential elements uptake

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Farmers applying organic fertilisers containing humic acid can boost harvests by 50 per cent as a result of enhanced uptake of essential elements that promote growth in crops. Agronomist Michael Mwangi says the acid makes macro and micro nutrients necessary for growth available to crops roots besides easing ionic exchanges. “Nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, …

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Kakamega farmer rears pigs to break down organic waste

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One Kakamega County farmer has cut organic fertiliser costs in maize production by rearing three pigs, which are helping him break down organic waste into manure. Wycliffe Ochango said converting organic waste into manure by normal decomposition takes months, but the pigs are ‘catalysing’ the process. “Instead of waiting for one to three months for …

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Kenyan Soils Rejuvenated by Mucuna Bean’s Nitrogen Fixation

Leave a Comment / Crops, Yields

A unique bean variety is helping fertilize degraded soils due to its nitrogen-fixing traits. Mucuna beans are capable of fixing 150kgs of nitrogen for every hectare. Kenyan soils are currently ranked amongst the worst due to exploitation and overuse of conventional fertilizers. Soil Regeneration Through Abundant Organic Matter: Mucuna not only fixes nitrogen but also …

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maize sunflower intercrop

Intercropping maize & sunflower reduces bird damage, improves soil fertility

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Farmers who target off season green maize market may save up to 10 per cent lost to birds besides improving soil fertility in their farms by intercropping maize with sunflower. In this, prepare the land in mid-February for early planting in March during the long rainy season. As for the short season prepare the land …

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Certified potato seeds double farmer’s yield

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By George Munene “From an acre of farmland applying the right agronomic practices, certified seeds should harvest a minimum of eighty 50kg bags and can yield up to 200 bags,” says Enoch Rugut an extension officer at Egerton University’s potato multiplication center. Rugut explains that using seeds disseminated between farmers as planting material you are …

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grafted passion fruit seedlings kenya

Grafting purple and yellow passion fruit controls deadly wilting disease

Leave a Comment / Pest Control

Farmers can control the lethal fusarium wilt disease with a 100 per cent deadly rate by grafting purple and yellow passion plants to obtain a hybrid. The disease, which is caused by a fungus, attacks stems and leaves and causes death of the entire plant within four to 14 days. In Kenya, the disease has led to …

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