Conservation tillage in Kenya [Elektronische Ressource] : the biophysical processes affecting its effectiveness / von Job Kihara Maguta

Soil Science _______________________________________________________________ Conservation tillage in Kenya: the biophysical processes affecting its effectiveness Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung des Grades Doktor der Agrarwissenschaften (Dr. agr.) der Hohen Landwirtschaftlichen Fakultät der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Bonn vorgelegt am 02.07.2009 von Job Kihara Maguta aus Nairobi, Kenya 1. Referent: PD Dr. Christopher Martius 2. Referent: Prof. Dr. Wolf Amelung Tag der Promotion: 02.07. 2009 Erscheinungsjahr: 2009 Diese Dissertation ist auf dem Hochschulschriftenserver der ULB Bonn http://hss.ulb.uni-bonn.de/diss_online elektronisch publiziert To my parents William and Gladys Maguta for the price they paid to take me to school ABSTRACT Appropriate soil management is important for improved ecosystem functioning and high crop production. This study investigates how different tillage [reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT)], crop residue (plus and minus crop residue) and cropping systems (soybean-maize intercropping, rotation and continuous maize) affected (i) soil aggregation, (ii) composition and diversity of microbial populations, (iii) crop residue (CR) disappearance and termite activity, (iv) nitrogen fixation and (v) crop productivity in Kenya.