The on-station field experimental trials were established in March 2019 in Nkarini Mixed Day Secondary School in Tharaka Sub-County, Tharaka-Nithi County. The on-station trails were to assess the integrated effect of soil fertility and soil and water conservation practices on sorghum yield, soil and water conservation and soil physico-chemical properties. A total of 11 technologies which were a combination of soil fertility and soil and water conservation practices plus a control were tested. Similarly, the on-farm trails with the same objectives was later established in October 2020. In addition, the on-farm trials are used as demonstration plots to the farmers. Technologies implemented on-farm were the selected best fit as per the farmer’s evaluation during the on-station field day exhibition. From the demonstration plots farmers are being trained on the technologies implementation to enhance chances of uptake and eventual adoption as they are able to observed the technologies performance from fellow farmers on their own fields. There is free access to the demo sites for the community to allow them visit the sites at will to learn.
Project members at the site during site visit before trial implantation
