Authors
MA Ada, MW Mucheru-Muna, JM Mugwe, S Zingore, E Mugi-Ngenga, F Mairura, D Ayieko
Journal
2ND BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND MARKETING SYSTEMS
Pages
198
Description
Poor soils have negatively impacted food production. Consequently, researchers have designed strategies that can reverse the poor soils trend and increase food production. However, the adoption breakthroughs of such solutions is wanting. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (i) determine how household socio-economic and demographic factors influence use of integrated soil fertility management strategies for maize production,(ii) determine how management practices of farmers affect available phosphorus levels in the soil. The study considered three ISFM strategies; use of inorganic fertilizer, use of organic manure and combined use of inorganic and organic fertilizer with improved seeds. Data collected included demographic and socio-economic characteristics of small-holder farmers, type and amount of fertilizers used on maize, soil samples were also collected. Descriptive statistics, ordinary least squares regression and binary logistic regression models in SPSS version 20 were employed during analysis. Results showed household size (positive), size of land under maize (negative), off-farm income (positive) and maize yield (positive) as significant (p< 0.05) predictors of the amounts of phosphorus fertilizer used for maize production. Household head occupation (negative), size of land under