Floods, Droughts & The Soil

Turning soils into sponges: Opportunities to reduce flood and drought risks

By Ruth

You may think that the common factor between drought and flood in many places in Kenya is water, especially lately. Other than the lack or abundance of rain, the major reason for droughts and floods is the soil’s health status and its inability to absorb, store and release water.

Soil is the upper layer of the earth on which plants grows, and animals live on. It is made up of organic matter and inorganic matter – sand, silt and clay. 75% of the earth’s surface is water. 25% of the earth’s surface is soil. Of the 25% of the earth’s crust that is soil – it can be broken down into the following uses.

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CIMMYT Director General Gains Insights into Breeding Activities at Kiboko Research Facility

In a recent visit to KALRO facilities in Kiboko, Kenya, CIMMYT commits to advancing the deployment of climate-resilient maize varieties in eastern and southern Africa.

During a visit to CIMMYT facilities on the agricultural research station of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) at Kiboko, Bram Govaerts, CIMMYT director general, extolled the longstanding partnership with KALRO and suggested creating a platform to speed access of national researchers to improved breeding lines and populations. Located 155 kilometers southeast of Nairobi in a dryland area better suited to raising cattle, goats, sheep, and camels than row crops, the Kiboko station comprises more than 15,000 hectares, with controlled irrigation systems, and has allowed efficient selection for tolerance to drought and insect pests in Africa-adapted maize, as well as the development of dryland crops such as pigeon pea, sorghum and groundnuts.

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Is it Bread and Butter in Kenya’s Wheat Basket?

Most wheat producers have their total disease management program in place once the seed is in the ground. By that time, decisions have been made relative to crop rotation, tillage/ seedbed preparation, variety selection, seed quality, seed treatment, planting date, seeding method, seeding rate, and soil fertility. Individually and collectively, these decisions can play an important role in influencing which diseases develop, ‘their severity, and their effect on crop yield and weight.

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Insect Management in Cereals

Once fields are properly scouted, data can be used to determine insect control options. Course of action should be started only when you are fully armed with up-to-date, accurate information writes Thomas Kipkorir

Proper crop rotation with alternate crops is an essential practice in any crop production to reduce buildup of insects, weeds and diseases. Insect attacks do not always result in economic injury, so certain insect management practices can be used to ensure cost-effective control decisions.

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TarzecTM 320WG: The Next Generation of Weed Control

It was pomp and dance at a Nanyuki hotel as wheat growers welcomed the entry of a totally unique post-emergence Herbicide for the control of grasses and broad leaf weeds on wheat, TarzecTM 320 WG. The launch came with an almost audiorecorded oratory of the Corteva Agriscience Marketing Campaign Manager, Mr. Innocent Oeri not previously heard before on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Co-ordinating well with seasoned Francis Karanja, the Corteva Agriscience Sales Manager ESCA, they touched the hearts of growers who will definitely add it to their spray programs.

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