OWSD PhD Fellowship
OWSD Early Career
2023
Muindi Esther
About the project
Her research project will investigate the existing soil acidity in the Kenyan highlands region and its sustainable management. Healthy soils uphold landscape resilience and regulate Earth’s climate while ensuring plant nutrition, agricultural productivity and food security; however these benefits are not achieved in many ecosystems due to either land degradation or limited soils management knowledge. Though approximately 83% of Kenyan crop production takes place within the highlands, the region suffers from soil acidity that is associated with an approximately 69% decline in maize, the country's most important crop for food security. As a management effort, the government recently began issuing fertilizer recommendations; but there are few comprehensive findings on the scope and distribution of existing acidity to sufficiently inform much-needed site- and crop-specific recommendations. This study will map soil acidity, evaluate short- and long-term sustainable management approaches for maize, common bean and iris potato production, and build capacity among farmers and other stakeholders in soil acidity management. The findings are expected to contribute to Kenya's food security and livelihoods by informing policymakers, farmers, and the research community.
Field of Specialization
Position
Senior Lecturer
About the institution
Full Member
Dr. Esther Muindi
Membership since:
2017
Field of activity:
Degrees:
2016
Doctorate
Agricultural Sciences
2008
Master
Agricultural Sciences
2006
Undergraduate
Agricultural Sciences
Publications resulting from Research
1). Muindi, E.M., Mrema J.P., Semu E., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2016). Effects of Lime-Aluminium-Phosphorus interactions on maize growth in acid soils. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 3(6):244-252.
2). Muindi, E.M., Semu E., Mrema J.P., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2016). Soil Acidity Management by Farmers in the Kenya Highlands. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 5(3): 1-11.
3). Muindi, E.M., Mrema J.P., Semu E., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2015). Lime-Aluminium-Phosphorus interactions in the Kenya Highlands. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 9 (4):1-10.
4). Muindi, E.M., Mrema J.P., Semu E., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2015). Phosphorus adsorption and its relation with soil properties in acid soils of Western Kenya. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science, 4(3):203-211.
2). Muindi, E.M., Semu E., Mrema J.P., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2016). Soil Acidity Management by Farmers in the Kenya Highlands. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 5(3): 1-11.
3). Muindi, E.M., Mrema J.P., Semu E., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2015). Lime-Aluminium-Phosphorus interactions in the Kenya Highlands. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 9 (4):1-10.
4). Muindi, E.M., Mrema J.P., Semu E., Mtakwa P.W., Gachene C.K., Njogu M.K. (2015). Phosphorus adsorption and its relation with soil properties in acid soils of Western Kenya. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science, 4(3):203-211.
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University of Nairobi
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KARI Biennial Conference
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Kari Headquarters, Nairobi