Zai Pits as a Climate-Smart Agriculture Technique in Southern Kenya: Maize Success Is Influenced More by Manure Than Depth

Matthew J. Bowers, Simon Kasaine and Bruce A. Schulte ()
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Matthew J. Bowers: Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA
Simon Kasaine: Wildlife Works, Voi P.O. Box 310-80300, Kenya
Bruce A. Schulte: Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: In semi-arid southern Kenya, climate change is putting rainfed agriculture at risk with major implications for food security. The zai pit, a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) technique, has proven to enhance yields in arid regions, but its labor demands have limited adoption rates. This study assessed how the zai pit depth and manure application within zai pits influenced maize ( Zea mays ) success (i.e., growth, development, and productivity). Three zai pit treatments were prepared at the Wildlife Works Research Center in southeastern Kenya: (1) deep (50 cm) with manure; (2) shallow (25 cm) with manure; and (3) deep (50 cm) without manure, and all were compared to a non-zai pit control (surface planting). Maize growth/development (e.g., height, stage, roots) and productivity (e.g., yield) measurements were taken over two growing periods. For most measures, shallow zai pits performed equally as well as deep zai pits, with both performing better than the control. Zai pits without manure performed significantly worse than zai pits with manure, oftentimes not differing from the control. Results suggest that maize success is influenced more by manure than the depth of the pit. Kenyan farmers are encouraged to dig shallower, manure-enriched zai pits to enhance food security in response to climate change.

Keywords: rainfed agriculture; climate change; soil fertility; Zea mays; food security; sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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