The impact of conventional and organic farming on soil biodiversity conservation: a case study on termites in the long-term farming systems comparison trials in Kenya

Anyango, John J.; Bautze, David; Fiaboe, Komi K. M.; Lagat, Zipporah O.; Muriuki, Anne W.; Stöckli, Sibylle; Riedel, Judith; Onyambu, Gladys K.; Musyoka, Martha W.; Karanja, Edward N.; Adamtey, Noah

doi:10.1186/s12898-020-00282-x

Table 2 The details on fertility, pest and water management of the farming systems

From: The impact of conventional and organic farming on soil biodiversity conservation: a case study on termites in the long-term farming systems comparison trials in Kenya

Farming system	Year	Season	Crop	Fertilizer management	Total N applied (kg ha⁻¹)	Total P applied (kg ha⁻¹)	Pest and disease management	Water management
Conv-Low	2014	LS	Maize (Zea mays var. H513)/Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. GLP 92)	5 t ha⁻¹ of fresh FYM, 50 kg ha⁻¹ DAP	31	18	Synthetic pesticides	Rain fed
	2014	SS	Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. GLP 92)	No fertilizer application	NA	NA
	2015	LS	Maize (Zea mays var. H513)/Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. GLP 92)	5 t ha⁻¹ of fresh FYM, 50 kg ha⁻¹ DAP	31	18
Org-Low	2014	LS	Maize (Zea mays var. H513)/Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. GLP 92)	5 t ha⁻¹ FYM-based compost, 100 kg ha⁻¹ RP, 136 kg ha⁻¹ Tithonia mulch	31	18	Biological pesticide	Rain fed
	2014	SS	Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. GLP 92)	No fertilizer application	NA	NA
	2015	LS	Maize (Zea mays var. H513)/Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. GLP 92)	5 t ha⁻¹ FYM-based compost, 100 kg ha⁻¹ RP, 136 kg ha⁻¹ Tithonia mulch	31	18
Conv-High	2014	LS	Baby corn (Zea mays var. Pannar 14)	113 t ha⁻¹ FYM, 200 kg ha⁻¹ DAP, 100 kg ha⁻¹ CAN	113	60	Synthetic pesticides	Irrigation
	2014	SS	French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Serengeti)	75 t ha⁻¹ FYM, 200 kg ha⁻¹ DAP, 100 kg ha⁻¹ CAN	113	60
	2015	LS	Baby corn (Zea mays var. Pannar 14)	113 t ha⁻¹ FYM, 200 kg ha⁻¹ DAP, 100 kg ha⁻¹ CAN	113	60
Org-High	2014	LS	Baby corn (Zea mays var. Pannar 14)/Mucuna pruriens	113 t ha⁻¹ FYM-compost, 364 kg ha⁻¹ RP, 54 t ha⁻¹Tithonia mulch and 39 t ha⁻¹Tithonia tea	113	60	Biological pesticide	Irrigation
	2014	SS	French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Serengeti)	113 t ha⁻¹ FYM-compost, 364 kg ha⁻¹ RP, 54 t ha⁻¹Tithonia mulch and 39 t ha⁻¹Tithonia tea	113	60
	2015	LS	Baby corn (Zea mays var. Pannar 14)/Mucuna pruriens	113 t ha⁻¹ FYM-compost, 364 kg ha⁻¹ RP, 54 t ha⁻¹Tithonia mulch and 39 t ha⁻¹Tithonia tea	113	60

The treatment details and the cropping pattern of the long-term farming systems comparisons trials at Chuka and Thika, the Central Highlands of Kenya ([29], modified); NB: Compost preparation starts with the indicated amount of FYM and was applied at planting; CAN was applied as top-dressing in two splits; Tithonian mulch was applied after crop germination as starter N; The organic high input system also received maize stover and Mucuna intercropped with baby corn in the 1st season of 2014 and 2015 which was uprooted after harvest and incorporated following season; Assumptions: FYM/compost (DW): 1.12% total N and 0.3% P; The DM of FYM is assumed to be 40%; Tithonia diversifolia (DW): 3.3% N; 0.31% P; 3.1% K; DM of Tithonia = 20%; Phosphate rock from West Africa: 11–13% P
Conv-Low conventional low input farming system, Org-Low organic low input farming system, Conv-High conventional high input farming system, Org-High organic high input farming system, LS long rain season, SS short rain seasons, CAN calcium ammonium nitrate, DAP di-ammonium phosphate, TSP triple superphosphate, RP rock phosphate, FYM farm yard manure

Back to article page

ISSN: 1472-6785

Contact us

General enquiries: ORSupport@springernature.com

BMC Ecology

Contact us