One of the most popular agroforestry practices in the highlands of Kenya is to use traditional hedges to demarcate both externaland internal boundaries of farms and compounds. These hedgesalso protect soil and crops as well as producing fodder, green manure and mulch. Among the most common species found inthem are Tithonia diversifolia, Lantana camara, Thevetia eruuianaand Croton megalocarpus. Some species, such as tithonia andlantana, produce large quantities of biomass, which farmers donot fully utilize as green manure. Yet the major constraint to highcrop productivity in Kenya is declining soil fertility. In particular, the soils are deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus.
Publication year
1997
Authors
Nyasimi M; Niang A I; Amadalo B A; Obonyo E; Jama, B.A.
Language
English
Keywords
crop yield, green manures, organic fertilizers, phosphorus, propagation materials, soil fertility
Geographic
Kenya
