Crop Rotation [Kenya]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Paul Kahiga
- Editor: –
- Reviewer: Fabian Ottiger
Crop rotation
technologies_1326 - Kenya
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology
SLM specialist:
Gathenya Mwangi
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O.Box, 62000-00200, Juja, Nairobi Kenya
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Home Patrick
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O.Box, 62000-00200, Juja, Nairobi Kenya
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Chege Timothy
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O.Box, 62000-00200, Juja, Nairobi Kenya
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Kimengich Baobab
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O.Box, 62000-00200, Juja, Nairobi Kenya
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Omwange Abamba
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O.Box, 62000-00200, Juja, Nairobi Kenya
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Karanja Andrew
+254 729 054547
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Nairobi
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Wamuongo Jane
+254 729 054547
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Nairobi
Kenya
SLM specialist:
Namirembe Sara
World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
Nairobi
Kenya
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) - KenyaName of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
KARI Headquarters (KARI Headquarters) - KenyaName of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Jomo Kenyatta University (Jomo Kenyatta University) - Kenya1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
When were the data compiled (in the field)?
18/09/2012
The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:
Ja
1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology
Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?
Nee
2. Description of the SLM Technology
2.1 Short description of the Technology
Definition of the Technology:
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.
2.2 Detailed description of the Technology
Description:
Growing the same crop in the same place for many years in a row disproportionately depletes the soil of certain nutrients. With rotation, a crop that leaches the soil of one kind of nutrient is followed during the next growing season by a dissimilar crop that returns that nutrient to the soil or draws a different ratio of nutrients. Crop rotation mitigates the buildup of pathogens and pests that often occurs when one species is continuously cropped, and can also improve soil structure and fertility by increasing biomass from varied root structures.
Purpose of the Technology: Crop rotation improves crop's productivity, it reduces soil erosion and enhances maximum nutrient utilization. Crop rotation also improve soil properties and aeration. A nitrogen-fixing crop, like a legume, should always proceed a nitrogen depleting one; similarly, a low residue crop (i.e. a crop with low biomass) should be offset with a high biomass cover crop, like a mixture of grasses and legumes
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: Crop rotation is practiced by subdividing the land into different portions. The portions are planted with crops e.g. cereals at first then in the next season, another plant is planted in the following manner; 1) Cereals crop with legumes, 2) Deep rooted with shallow rooted and a cover crop.
Natural / human environment: In Embu county, the main crops that are rotated includes, maize and legumes.
2.3 Photos of the Technology
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
Country:
Kenya
Region/ State/ Province:
Eastern Province
Further specification of location:
Mbeere South District
Map
×2.6 Date of implementation
If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
- 10-50 years ago
2.7 Introduction of the Technology
Specify how the Technology was introduced:
- through land users' innovation
3. Classification of the SLM Technology
3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology
- improve production
- reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
- conserve ecosystem
- create beneficial economic impact
3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied
Cropland
- Annual cropping
Comments:
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Soil erosion
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Soil erosion and low productivity
Future (final) land use (after implementation of SLM Technology): Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping
If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:
Cropland: Ca: Annual cropping
3.3 Further information about land use
Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
- mixed rainfed-irrigated
Number of growing seasons per year:
- 1
Specify:
Longest growing period in days: 90
3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs
- rotational systems (crop rotation, fallows, shifting cultivation)
3.5 Spread of the Technology
Specify the spread of the Technology:
- evenly spread over an area
If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:
- 10-100 km2
3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology
agronomic measures
- A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility
Comments:
Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, rotations / fallows
3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology
soil erosion by water
- Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
Comments:
Main causes of degradation: soil management, crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub), land tenure
3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation
Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
- prevent land degradation
4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs
4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology
4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing
The technical drawing on the left hand side shows a typical crop rotation arrangement, a series of different types of crops in the same area are grown in sequential season. These may include, cereals, legumes, alliums and solanaceae.
Location: Embu. Eastern Province
Date: 13.02.2013
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…)
4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs
other/ national currency (specify):
Kshs
Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:
100.0
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:
5.00
4.4 Establishment activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Land preparation | Agronomic | |
2. | Buy seeds | Agronomic |
4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment
Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit | Total costs per input | % of costs borne by land users | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Land preparation | ha | 1.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Equipment | Tools | ha | 1.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Plant material | Seeds | ha | 1.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 |
Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 250.0 |
Comments:
Lifespan of the product: Landpreparation (3 years)
4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing/ frequency | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Planting | Agronomic | Each cropping season |
2. | Weeding | Agronomic |
4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)
Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit | Total costs per input | % of costs borne by land users | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Planting and weeding | ha | 1.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 |
Equipment | Tools | ha | 1.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Plant material | Seeds | ha | 1.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 250.0 |
4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs
Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:
labour
5. Natural and human environment
5.1 Climate
Annual rainfall
- < 250 mm
- 251-500 mm
- 501-750 mm
- 751-1,000 mm
- 1,001-1,500 mm
- 1,501-2,000 mm
- 2,001-3,000 mm
- 3,001-4,000 mm
- > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
- sub-humid
Thermal climate class: tropics
5.2 Topography
Slopes on average:
- flat (0-2%)
- gentle (3-5%)
- moderate (6-10%)
- rolling (11-15%)
- hilly (16-30%)
- steep (31-60%)
- very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
- plateau/plains
- ridges
- mountain slopes
- hill slopes
- footslopes
- valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
- 0-100 m a.s.l.
- 101-500 m a.s.l.
- 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
- 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
- 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
- 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
- 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
- 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
- > 4,000 m a.s.l.
5.3 Soils
Soil depth on average:
- very shallow (0-20 cm)
- shallow (21-50 cm)
- moderately deep (51-80 cm)
- deep (81-120 cm)
- very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
- medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
- medium (1-3%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.
Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good
Soil water storage capacity: Medium
5.4 Water availability and quality
Ground water table:
5-50 m
Availability of surface water:
medium
Water quality (untreated):
poor drinking water (treatment required)
5.5 Biodiversity
Species diversity:
- medium
5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology
Market orientation of production system:
- mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
- less than 10% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
- average
Individuals or groups:
- individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
- manual work
Gender:
- women
- men
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:
Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology
- < 0.5 ha
- 0.5-1 ha
- 1-2 ha
- 2-5 ha
- 5-15 ha
- 15-50 ha
- 50-100 ha
- 100-500 ha
- 500-1,000 ha
- 1,000-10,000 ha
- > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
- small-scale
5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights
Land ownership:
- individual, titled
Land use rights:
- individual
Water use rights:
- individual
5.9 Access to services and infrastructure
health:
- poor
- moderate
- good
education:
- poor
- moderate
- good
6. Impacts and concluding statements
6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown
Socio-economic impacts
Production
crop production
risk of production failure
product diversity
Income and costs
farm income
diversity of income sources
workload
Socio-cultural impacts
food security/ self-sufficiency
SLM/ land degradation knowledge
Improved livelihoods and human well-being
Ecological impacts
Biodiversity: vegetation, animals
biomass/ above ground C
pest/ disease control
6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown
buffering/ filtering capacity
6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)
Gradual climate change
Gradual climate change
Season | Type of climatic change/ extreme | How does the Technology cope with it? | |
---|---|---|---|
annual temperature | increase | well |
6.4 Cost-benefit analysis
How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
positive
How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
positive
6.5 Adoption of the Technology
Comments:
There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
Helps in controlling weeds. |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
Crop rotation prevents soil depletion of nutrients thus maintains soil fertility. |
Crop rotation reduces soil erosion |
Reduces pest's build-up thus prevents disease infestation. |
6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
The fungi and pests left behind from a previous crop can potentially harm the new crop. | Liase with agronomist for advice on appropriate pesticides and fungicides to use. |
More time is required in preparing fields for crops ahead of rotations. | Proper timing of farm operations in preparation of rotations |
7. References and links
7.1 Methods/ sources of information
- field visits, field surveys
- interviews with land users
Links and modules
Expand all Collapse allLinks
No links
Modules
No modules