Michael Okoti - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Michael Okoti

Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy

Social Sciences & Humanities Open

Frontiers in soil science, Nov 30, 2022

Introduction: There is a vast data gap for the national and regional greenhouse gas (GHG) budget ... more Introduction: There is a vast data gap for the national and regional greenhouse gas (GHG) budget from different smallholder land utilization types in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at large. Quantifying soil GHG, i.e., methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from smallholder land utilization types, is essential in filling the data gap. Methods: We quantified soil GHG emissions from different land utilization types in Western Kenya. We conducted a 26-soil GHG sampling campaign from the different land utilization types. The five land utilization types include 1) agroforestry M (agroforestry Markhamia lutea and sorghum), 2) sole sorghum (sorghum monocrop), 3) agroforestry L (Sorghum and Leucaena leucocephala), 4) sole maize (maize monocrop), and 5) grazing land. Results and discussion: The soil GHG fluxes varied across the land utilization types for all three GHGs (p ≤ 0.0001). We observed the lowest CH4 uptake under grazing land (−0.35 kg CH4-C ha−1) and the highest under sole maize (−1.05 kg CH4-C ha−1). We recorded the lowest soil CO2 emissions under sole maize at 6,509.86 kg CO2-Cha−1 and the highest under grazing land at 14,400.75 kg CO2-Cha−1. The results showed the lowest soil N2O fluxes under grazing land at 0.69 kg N2O-N ha−1 and the highest under agroforestry L at 2.48 kg N2O-N ha−1. The main drivers of soil GHG fluxes were soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, soil moisture, clay content, and root production. The yield-scale N2O fluxes ranged from 0.35 g N2O-N kg−1 under sole maize to 4.90 g N2O-N kg−1 grain yields under agroforestry L. Nevertheless, our findings on the influence of land utilization types on soil GHG fluxes and yield-Frontiers in Soil Science frontiersin.org 01

This report provides baseline information on population demography’s, agricultural land use activ... more This report provides baseline information on population demography’s, agricultural land use activities, natural resource management activities and infrastructural conditions in Tana Delta district. The district was hived out of the previous larger Tana River district. The report is a compilation of the district data as collected from the quick field reconnaissance visit made to the district and the secondary data acquired from the district departmental offices and other organizations working in the area. Information acquired in this survey will guide the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) funded, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) project “Enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation research capacity in Kenyas agricultural sector” i

Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems

SAARC Journal of Agriculture, 2019

Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing conc... more Soil C sequestration through enhanced land use is a good strategy to mitigate the increasing concentration of atmospheric CO2. A study was conducted in Chhatiwan VDC of Makawanpur District to compare soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks of four main land use types such as forest, degraded forest, Khet and Bari land. Stratified random sampling method was used for collecting soil samples. Organic carbon content was determined by Walkley and Black method. Total SOC stock of different types of land followed the order: as Forest (110.0 t ha-1) > Bari (96.5 t ha-1) > Khet (86.8 t ha-1) > Degraded land (72.0 t ha-1). The SOC% declined with soil depths. The SOC% at 0–20 cm depth was highest (1.26 %) that recorded in the forest soils and lowest (0.37%) at 80- 100cm depth in degraded forest land. Thus, the SOC stock varied with land use systems and soil depths. The study suggests a need for appropriate land use strategy and sustainable soil management practices to improve SOC stock. SAAR...

Soil and Tillage Research

International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 2020

This paper analyses emerging policy discussions on climate change and agriculture in Kenya. Kenya... more This paper analyses emerging policy discussions on climate change and agriculture in Kenya. Kenya has been ahead of many other countries in developing a national climate change strategy, and agriculture is one of the key critical sectors of interest. However, there are concerns about whether policy goals may be achieved amidst the actors’ many and diverging interests. This paper sets out to map how these debates are starting to take place in practice, and poses the following questions: what are the arguments, who is promoting them, and what are the implications for Kenya’s agricultural sector? A better understanding of the key actors, their interests and through what narratives actor-interests are mobilised is important because they will all have implications for the kinds of support farmers at the local level do or do not receive, and the extent to which their own interests are fore grounded or marginalised within the policy process. Ultimately, the policy response to climate chang...

Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, Jul 31, 2010

Site characterization was carried out in Kalacha irrigation scheme for the design and restoration... more Site characterization was carried out in Kalacha irrigation scheme for the design and restoration of the scheme. Detailed soil survey was carried at the scale of 1:2,000, through systematic observations, where the soils were described in terms of depth, texture, structure and consistence. Based on these characteristics, four soil units were identified and designated as block A, B, C and D, covering 23, 18, 17 and 42% of the scheme, respectively. In each unit, representative soil profiles were identified, characterized in terms of soil physical and chemical properties, and classified according to FAO-UNESCO system of classification. The soils in block A, B, C and D were classified as Petric Calcisols, Salic Fluvisols, Calcic Solonetz and Calcaric Fluvisols, respectively. The aggregate stability of the topsoils for Block A, B, C, and D was found to be 40, 10, 2 and 4%; while the water uptake capacity was 218, 158, 76 and 86 mm, respectively. The highest level of nutrients was found in Block A, followed by Block B, while block C and D had relatively lower levels. The most limiting factors were found to be high salinity, high sodicity, low aggregate stability and high soil pH, hence low nutrient availability.

Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2018

A study aimed at establishing feeding management and performances of dairy goats in arable pocket... more A study aimed at establishing feeding management and performances of dairy goats in arable pockets of Marsabit County in arid lands of northern Kenya was conducted in six sites. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from randomly selected individual dairy goats keepers, dairy goats rearing groups and development agents who supported dairy goats production. The data was entered and analyzed using the SPSS version 10.5. The study established that, 93.3% of farmers rely on natural forages to feed their dairy goats and about 50% of dairy goats keepers lacked appropriate management skills. The study further established that about 70% of the farmers on Mt. Marsabit and 64.3% in Kalacha owned conserved fodder plots, of natural pastures, lack of storage sheds was noted among key constraint to storage. Mineral supplements were provided by all farmers on Mt. Marsabit and only 14.3% in Kalacha. The age of reproductive maturity for female Alpine was is 10.7±2.3mo and 10.5...

This study was conducted in the northern part of Kenya, Turkana district, in Kakuma division. Its... more This study was conducted in the northern part of Kenya, Turkana district, in Kakuma division. Its aims were to study the impact of human settlement on vegetation and soil resources and the socio-economic environment. Kakuma is a semi-arid area under nomadic pastoral ism as the main activity. This area has a high population concentration than other areas. The presence of the refugee camp has attracted many people from within the turkana community and also the outside community. This has in turn had an effect on the vegetation and the social patterns of the local community. Vegetation plays an important role in the sustenance of the Turkana people, either directly (food) or indirectly (forage for animals). For the study of vegetation, 4 transects, each 6 Km long, were laid from the settlement camp. Vegetation density, cover and diversity values were taken for trees, shrubs and herbs at the intervals of 1 Km. The 6th Km from the settlement camp acted as the control. There was a signifi...

This study, which was undertaken in the Northern Kenya pastoral community, was aimed at documenti... more This study, which was undertaken in the Northern Kenya pastoral community, was aimed at documenting the various indicators the community use in monitoring the quality of range resources, especially vegetation. It should be noted that livestock production is the main livelihood system in this communities. Data was captured using interviews and focused group discussions with a section of the community members. The study revealed a wealth of knowledge in monitoring of the range resources quality within these communities. Among the two communities, it was evident that they observe livestock behavior, livestock attributes and physical phenomena, as indicators of vegetation quality. Livestock behavior observed could tell when the range conditions were suitable for livestock and when the conditions were unsuitable. Goats' being playful is a common characteristic that indicates that the range conditions are suitable for livestock. Other observable livestock behavior or attributes indicating good range conditions are livestock responding to their names when called; increase on milk out put; increased mating. Indicators of bad range conditions include: -rough hair on camels; livestock grinding teeth at night; high mice populations; increase in camel flies. Some specific observations are specific to few individuals. This is in the case of judging the suitability of forage by smelling livestock urine. However these indicators are used to make decisions always when the community migrates from one region to another in search of pastures. Documenting this indigenous knowledge aids in better understanding the reasons behind the decisions made for livestock migration.