Pius Gumo

Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) provides high biomass and nutritional value, yet its productivity in ASALs is constrained by low soil moisture. A study was conducted at AMRI Katumani during the short rains of 2024 to the long rains of 2025 to evaluate the yield of three Napier varieties: Super Napier, Kakamega 1 and Juncao under different climate-smart techniques (CLISMARTECH): tumbukiza, double-layer polythene mulch and conventional practice (control). The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a 3×3 factorial layout with three replications during two consecutive seasons, the short rains (SR, October–December 2024) and long rains (LR, March–May 2025). Nine cuttings, each containing 2–3 nodes, were planted at a 45° angle with 30 cm × 20 cm spacing. Parameters that were measured for growth were plant height, leaf length, leaf width, stem thickness and biomass yield. Data were analysed by ANOVA with R software and means were separated by HSD at 5% level. Results showed that there were significant differences between varieties and moisture conservation practices (p ? 0.05). Tumbukiza consistently outperformed all growth parameters among all the treatments, followed by polythene mulch and the control had the lowest performance. The tallest plants and longest leaves were found in Super Napier, while Juncao had the thickest stems. Kakameka 1 was the second tallest and had the longest leaves. Growth rates were higher in regrowth than in establishment, and treatments had significant impacts on biomass yields. The results of this study indicate that the use of tumbu and polythene mulch may be potential tools for maximizing productivity of forages in Kenya's ASALs under the low soil moisture conditions.

Climate change has affected several aspects of sustainable food production and food security. One of the major challenges of climate change is the prolonged drought that has led to water stress in crops, including sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya. A study was conducted at the Nadapal irrigation scheme in Turkana County, Kenya, to determine the crop's performance under different water application regimes. Principal component analysis was used to compare phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and to study ontogenetic morphological integration leading to variation in sorghum yields. A path coefficient analysis was applied to estimate correlations between yield and yield-related traits and to determine the direct and indirect effects of these traits on yield per plant. It also enabled the identification of causal factors and other overlapping factors. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. From the analysis of variance, a highly significant and positive strong correlation was observed for seed index and plant height (r = 0.76) as well as head weight and grain yield (r = 0.74). Surprisingly, water use efficiency (WUE) showed a negative correlation with all other measured parameters. These kinds of interactions amongst WUE and other yield components depend on whether greater WUE is associated with equivalent carbon gain while using less water or greater carbon gain while using equivalent amounts of water (or a combination of the two). The correlation and path coefficient analyses carried out demonstrated that head weight, head length, and seed index were important selection criteria for high grain yields in sorghum. There were direct and indirect effects of the parameters on sorghum yield. This study evaluated other important correlations among sorghum characteristics that breeders can exploit to enhance the production of high-yielding sorghum cultivars. It revealed overlapping characteristics among head weight, head length, and seed index in relation to grain yield. As a result, these components could serve as selection criteria to improve sorghum seed yield.

Soil multifunctionality (SMF) encompasses key soil functions, such as organic matter transformation, nutrient cycling, water storage, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity support for resilient agroecosystems. These vital processes promote soil structuration that supports nutrient supply, primary production, climate regulation, erosion control, and water filtration capacities. However, their success depends on the strategic integration of organic mulch and compost within holistic, context-specific farming systems. This review, therefore, synthesizes the current scientific understanding of the roles of organic mulch and compost, with a focus on soil multifunctionality. This is because soil functions still face many challenges stemming from human activities such as deforestation, overcultivation, and the intensive use of external farm inputs. These changes place mounting stress on soil ecosystems. By adopting these strategies, stakeholders can strengthen soil multifunctionality and safeguard the soil for both ecosystems and human well-being. Organic residues have been used repeatedly in sustainable farming, with compost and mulching being the most common practices, and therefore align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals in terms of environmental conservation and protection. Organic mulch, such as crop residues, conserves soil moisture, moderates’ temperature, reduces erosion and promotes microbial activity, thereby improving nutrient availability and soil structure. Compost, derived from decomposed organic materials, enriches soil with essential nutrients, enhances water-holding capacity and supports microbial biodiversity, thereby contributing to long-term soil fertility and carbon sequestration. The integrated use of mulch and compost enhances nutrient availability, increases soil organic carbon and mitigates environmental stressors such as drought and erosion. These practices align with agroecological principles, reducing reliance on chemical inputs and promoting circular economy models. By improving soil aggregation, water infiltration, and microbial necromass carbon buildup, mulch and compost restore degraded lands and enhance crop productivity and yield stability. Despite challenges such as nitrogen immobilization and scalability, their combined application offers a sustainable pathway to address food insecurity and the impacts of climate change. This review underscores the need for context-specific strategies to optimize these practices, highlighting their role in revitalizing soil multifunctionality for resilient agroecosystems.