An Analysis of Livestock Manure Flow from Rangelands to Cultivated Lands in Central Kenya: A Case Study of Mukogodo Division, Laikipia District

Abstract

The soils cultivated by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are inherently infertile. Poor soil fertility is recognized as a major constraint to crop productivity. One of the effective ways to redress this problem is use of inorganic fertilizers, which is beset by several problems. The use of other resources such as livestock manure from rangelands is therefore increasingly gaining importance. The study aimed at characterizing the contribution of livestock manure flow from rangelands to cultivated lands. The data were collected through structured questionnaires, focused group discussions, informal interviews and field observations. Soil and manure samples were also collected using a simple random method. It was found that out of 60 households interviewed, all had livestock and 82% were involved in livestock manure trade. The average number of livestock holding per household was 14, 54 and 43 of cattle, goats and sheep, respectively. Livestock manure from rangelands was marketed directly to individual traders (75.9%), farmers (19.5%) and to horticultural growers (4.6%). The mean manure price ranged from KShs. 237.5 and 319.7 per MT, for cattle and small ruminant manure, respectively. The mean livestock manure sale per household per year was 10.8 and 5.7 MT of small ruminant and cattle manure, respectively. The manure selling households earned an annual average gross income of KShs.3, 715 from livestock manure. Livestock manure brokers received a mark up of 91% from sale of small ruminant manure at Karatina Central Kenya. Other beneficiaries of livestock manure trade included truck loaders who received an average wage of between KShs. 208 and 269 for loading a tonne of manure. The regression model on quantity of manure sold was highly significant (p<O.Ol). The associated R2 was 29.6. Small ruminant manure contained 2.4% N, 0.65% P, 3.1% K, 2.6% Ca, 0.58% Mg and 28.5% Organic C, while cattle manure contained 1.91% N, 0.49% P, 3.36% K, 1.55% Ca, 0.48% Mg and 25.1% Organic C. The application of livestock manure and inorganic fertilizer simultaneously resulted in significant increase in soil available P, as well as reduction in soil acidification (p=0.05). It is notable that livestock manure from rangelands provides a source of cash income to pastoral households selling manures, and soil nutrients to crop farmers. Moreover, manure from rangelands has an economic benefit to brokers, truck loaders and the Local Government. The study concludes that livestock manure is a key resource that contributes significantly in the improvement of soil fertility and has the potential of enhancing crop farmers' food security.