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Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Selected Soil Fertility Management Practices in Humic Nitisols of Upper Eastern Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Miriam W Githongo

    (Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management, University of Embu, P.O. Box 6, Embu 60100, Kenya)

  • Collins M. Musafiri

    (Department of Water and Agricultural Resource Management, University of Embu, P.O. Box 6, Embu 60100, Kenya
    Cortile Scientific Limited, P.O. Box 34991, Nairobi 00100, Kenya)

  • Joseph M. Macharia

    (Department of Geography, Kenyatta University, P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi 00100, Kenya)

  • Milka N. Kiboi

    (Cortile Scientific Limited, P.O. Box 34991, Nairobi 00100, Kenya)

  • Andreas Fliessbach

    (Department of Soil Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FIBL), Ackerstrasse 113, 5070 Frick, Switzerland)

  • Anne Muriuki

    (National Agriculture Research Laboratories, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P.O. Box 14733, Nairobi 00800, Kenya)

  • Felix K. Ngetich

    (Cortile Scientific Limited, P.O. Box 34991, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
    Department of Plant, Animal and Food Sciences (PAFS), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), P.O. Box 210, Bondo 40601, Kenya)

Abstract

We quantified the soil carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) fluxes of five soil fertility management practices (inorganic fertilizer (Mf), maize residue + inorganic fertilizer (RMf), maize residue + inorganic fertilizer + goat manure (RMfM), maize residue + tithonia diversifolia + goat manure (RTiM), and a control (CtC)) in Kenya’s central highlands using a static chamber method from March 2019 to March 2020. The cumulative annual soil CH 4 uptake ranged from −1.07 to −0.64 kg CH 4 -C ha −1 yr −1 , CO 2 emissions from 4.59 to 9.01 Mg CO 2 -C ha −1 yr −1 , and N 2 O fluxes from 104 to 279 g N 2 O-N ha −1 yr −1 . The RTiM produced the highest CO 2 emissions (9.01 Mg CO 2 -C ha −1 yr −1 ), carbon sequestration (3.99 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 ), yield-scaled N 2 O emissions (YSE) (0.043 g N 2 O-N kg −1 grain yield), the lowest net global warming potential (net GWP) (−14.7 Mg CO 2 -eq ha −1 ) and greenhouse gas intensities (GHGI) (−2.81 Kg CO 2 -eq kg −1 grain yield). We observed average maize grain yields of 7.98 Mg ha −1 yr −1 under RMfM treatment. Integrating inorganic fertilizer and maize residue retention resulted in low emissions, increased soil organic carbon sequestration, and high maize yields.

Suggested Citation

  • Miriam W Githongo & Collins M. Musafiri & Joseph M. Macharia & Milka N. Kiboi & Andreas Fliessbach & Anne Muriuki & Felix K. Ngetich, 2022. "Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Selected Soil Fertility Management Practices in Humic Nitisols of Upper Eastern Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1938-:d:744761
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kiboi, M.N. & Ngetich, K.F. & Fliessbach, A. & Muriuki, A. & Mugendi, D.N., 2019. "Soil fertility inputs and tillage influence on maize crop performance and soil water content in the Central Highlands of Kenya," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 316-331.
    2. Okeyo, A.I. & Mucheru-Muna, M. & Mugwe, J. & Ngetich, K.F. & Mugendi, D.N. & Diels, J. & Shisanya, C.A., 2014. "Effects of selected soil and water conservation technologies on nutrient losses and maize yields in the central highlands of Kenya," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 52-58.
    3. Ikabongo Mukumbuta & Mariko Shimizu & Ryusuke Hatano, 2017. "Mitigating Global Warming Potential and Greenhouse Gas Intensities by Applying Composted Manure in Cornfield: A 3-Year Field Study in an Andosol Soil," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-20, February.
    4. United Nations UN, 2015. "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Working Papers id:7559, eSocialSciences.
    5. Zia Ur Rahman Farooqi & Muhammad Sabir & Nukshab Zeeshan & Muhammad Mahroz Hussian & Khurram Naveed, 2018. "Enhancing Carbon Sequestration Using Organic Amendments and Agricultural Practices," Chapters, in: Ramesh Agarwal (ed.), Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration, IntechOpen.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Yarong Zhang & Yun Nie & Yanling Liu & Xingcheng Huang & Yehua Yang & Han Xiong & Huaqing Zhu & Yu Li, 2022. "Characteristics of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Yellow Paddy Soils under Long-Term Organic Fertilizer Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Miriam Githongo & Lucy Ngatia & Milka Kiboi & Anne Muriuki & Andreas Fliessbach & Collins Musafiri & Riqiang Fu & Felix Ngetich, 2023. "The Structural Quality of Soil Organic Matter under Selected Soil Fertility Management Practices in the Central Highlands of Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Thongsouk Sompouviset & Yanting Ma & Eakkarin Sukkaew & Zhaoxia Zheng & Ai Zhang & Wei Zheng & Ziyan Li & Bingnian Zhai, 2023. "The Effects of Plastic Mulching Combined with Different Fertilizer Applications on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensity, and Apple Yield in Northwestern China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, June.

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