Author : Cadish, George

Summary : Declining or low maize yields on smallholder farms are common in Western Kenya particularly, since fertilizer prices have increased and the associated nutrient mining has decreased soil fertility. Natural fallows, which normally consist of a combination of broad-leafed weeds and grasses, are used to restore soil fertility or to provide fodder for livestock but their effectiveness is low. Recent results have shown that improved fallow systems with fast-growing tree or shrub legume species like Sesbania sesban have a high potential to restore soil fertility and have become a central agroforestry technology for soil fertility management. These technologies have proven a high adoption potential with smallholding farmers in Western Kenya and Southern Africa. Sesbania has been the main focus for this technology partly due to its long traditional history with farmers and for its compatibility with crops, deep rooting, supply of additional wood products and large benefit to maize planted after the fallow. More recently other species such as Crotalaria grahamiana and Tephrosia vogelii have been tested with success in the region.