PROJECT ASSESSMENTS - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 122

Table 3. Impact of application of various combinations of organic and mineral fertilizers to
different crops on yield, gross margin, partial N-balance, N-use efficiency (Nout/Nin) and
Value-Cost Ratio (VCR) in five research clusters (average of two growing seasons in the
period 2001-2002)

VCR

Research
site, test crop
(number of
plots)

Technology tested Yield

(kg ha -1 )

Gross
margin
(KSh ×
1000 ha -1 )

Partial N-
balance
(kg ha -1
season -1 )

Nout/
Nin

Matuu,
irrigated,
maize
(n=11)

Farmers' practice
5 t/ha FYM *
130 kg/ha DAP + 135 kg/ha CAN
5 t/ha FYM + 135 kg/ha CAN
5 t/ha FYM + 135kg/ha DAP

2416
1978
2988
2634
3500

24.1
17.3
23.3
20.9
25.9

-144
-98
-93
-72
-60

-
3.96
2.55
2.00
1.64

-
-1.75
0.87
0.40
1.19

+ 135 kg/ha CAN

Matuu,
rainfed,
maize,
(n=7)

Farmers' practice
5 t/ha FYM
130 kg/ha DAP + 135 kg/ha CAN
5 t/ha FYM + 135 kg/ha CAN
5 t/ha FYM + 135kg/ha DAP

813
613
1263
943
1475

8.1
3.6
6.0
4.0
5.6

-49
-27
-7
7
23

-
3.96
2.55
2.00
1.64

-
-0.80
0.68
0.24
0.73

+ 135 kg/ha CAN

Kionyweni,
rainfed,
maize/
cowpea
(n=11)

Farmers'practice
No inputs
5 t/ha FYM + 42 kg/ha CAN
20 t/ha FYM
40 t/ha FYM

1173
1340
1807
1900
2352

14.3
16.3
18.6
13.4
8.4

-48
-54
-27
57
175

-
-
1.63
0.57
0.35

-
-
1.68
0.72
0.61

Kasikeu,
rainfed,
maize
(n=5)

Farmers' practice (0 input)
20 ton/ha FYM
40 ton/ha FYM

1260
1909
2736

12.6
14.1
17.3

-27
27
153

-
0.61
0.43

-
1.29
1.48

Kiomo,
rainfed,
maize
(n=5)

Farmers' practice (0 input)
100 kg/ha 20/20/0
200 kg/ha 20/20/0
Farmers practice (6 ton/ha FYM)
20 ton/ha FYM
40 ton/ha FYM

500
450
502
489
663
880

5.0
1.5
-1.0
3.4
1.7
-2.5

-10
11
29
10
53
116

-
0.45
0.28
0.50
0.19
0.13

-
-0.16
0.00
-
0.45
0.45

Farmers' practice (5 ton/ha FYM)
5 ton/ha FYM + 100 kg/ha 20/20/0
5 ton/ha FYM + 200 kg/ha 20/20/0
5 ton/ha FYM + 300 kg/ha 20/20/0

Kibwezi,
irrigated,
onions
(n=3)

813
1027
1345
3046

-25.0
-23.7
-20.3
10.6

10
23
32
-6

n.a. -

1.43
1.78
4.96

* FYM = Farm yard manure; DAP = Di-ammonium phosphate; CAN = Calcium ammonium
nitrate; Ksh = Kenyan shilling.

Stakeholders' consultations

During the two stakeholders' consultations, the results of the diagnostic and PLAR
activities in the project were combined with the experiences, goals and aspirations of
the major stakeholders in the ASAL to arrive at a set of research and development
orientations (Table 4).