Soil water use efficiency under integrated soil management practices in the drylands of Kenya

Soil moisture scarcity and soil fertility decline in the drylands contribute to declining crop productivity. The possible synergistic effects of integrating soil & water conservation, and soil fertility management practices on soil moisture, and hence water use efficiency (WUE) in the drylands of Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya was assessed. The experiment was laid in a three by three split plot arrangement, with four replications, for four cropping seasons. Minimum tillage with mulch, tied ridges, and conventional tillage formed the main plot factors. The sub-plot factors included animal manure plus fertilizer at 120, 60, and 30 N kg ha-1. There was significant improvement in soil moisture by 35 and 28% by minimum tillage with mulch and tied ridges, respectively, compared to conventional tillage. Manure plus fertilizer rates of 120 and 60 N kg ha-1 had significantly lower soil moisture by 12 and 10%, respectively than the 30 N kg ha-1 across the seasons. The WUE was significantly enhanced by 150 and 65% under minimum tillage with mulch and tied ridges, respectively, compared to conventional tillage. Compared with 30 N kg ha-1, the 120 N kg ha-1 and 60 kg ha-1 significantly enhanced the WUE by 66 and 25%, respectively. Across the seasons, the best treatment combination for improving WUE was minimum tillage with mulch at 120 N kg ha-1 rate of manure plus fertilizer.