Factors Influencing Levels of Knowledge in Soil Fertility Management in the Central Highlands of Kenya

Soil nutrient depletion is one of the major biophysical constraints affecting agricultural production in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite past research developing soil fertility management options, few of the recommendations from this research have been put into use by the targeted end users mainly due to low levels of knowledge and understanding about these technologies. This study attempted to identify the knowledge levels of the farmers and the socioeconomic factors influencing the levels of knowledge for effective and enhanced uptake and utilisation of these technologies in Meru South, Maara and Mbeere South districts of the central highlands of Kenya where 300 farmers were randomly selected. Results show that 75% of the respondents in the study area had high levels of knowledge in use of manure, 73% of the respondents had high levels of knowledge on the use of fertilisers while 43% of the respondents had moderate levels of knowledge in the use of manure + fertilisers. A Logistic regression model identified age of the household head, training in the use of animal manure and group membership to significantly influence household levels of knowledge in use of animal manure. On knowledge in the use of fertilisers, a Logistic regression model identified group membership, age of the HHH and total farm size to significantly influence the levels of knowledge in inorganic fertilisers. In regard to the use of manure + fertilisers, a Logistic regression model identified gender of the HHH, household size, training on manure + fertilisers, group membership and total farm size to significantly influence the levels of knowledge in manure + fertilisers at P<0.05. The implication of these results is that in order to improve knowledge levels, trainings should be enhanced and targeted to the farmers belonging to farmer groups considering their gender, age and total farms size.