Basmati 370 rice is the predominant commercial variety grown by nearly 95% of the farmers in Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kenya. Farmers agronomic practices are varied and there exist limited systematically documented baseline data on farmers practices, yields and land productivity. This study seeks to establish the farmers practices and yields, compare with monthly crop establishment data and document Basmati 370 yields in Mwea.&nbsp; The scheme was divided into six units and structured questionnaire administered to determine the farmers practices, followed by field yield sampling to quantify productivity.&nbsp; Concurrently, field trails were conducted to establish growth and yield performance of Basmati 370 rice variety under research conditions. Survey results indicate that majority of the farmers (70%), practice random planting for rice crop establishment. Fertilizer use is moderate (50%) and types varied with DAP + MOP and SA (79%) as the preferred combinations. There was nearly 100% use of herbicides for weed control. Farmers field yields averaged 5.0 t/ha and this compared well with experimental yields of 5.5 t/ha, the highest being 6.0 t/ha, during the November cropping. Comparatively, Lower farmers&rsquo; yields (5.0 t/ha) is attributed to inadequate agronomic practices. November cropping gave the highest yields but not different from August and September cropping and possibly the best establishment period. It can therefore be concluded that Basmati 370 rice yields 5.5t/ha in Mwea irrigation scheme. 
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Agronomic Practices and Grain Yields of Basmati 370 Rice Variety under Common Farmer Husbandry Practices in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya: A Review

Background: Direct seeding of rice (DSR) is a climate smart recommended method of rice seeding but adoption remains low due to technical challenges. Its effects on rice, under varying nitrogen levels on growth and yield was investigated in Mwea, Ahero and Hola schemes, with varied soil pH, in Kenya.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Treatments consisted of five nitrogen levels of 0, 30, 90, 120, 150 Kg N/ha and two varieties (08FAN10 and Komboka), under direct seeding method. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with a split plot arrangement. Data was collected on tillers, plant height, time of heading, maturity and grain yields. 
 
Result: The effects of N levels under DSR were varied depending on variety. Treatment with 120 kg N/ha gave significantly taller plants, more tillers m-2, panicles m-2 and grain yields for 08FAN10 variety, while for Komboka variety, 150 kg N/ha was optimum for best plant height, tillers m-2, panicles m-2 and grain yields. 08FAN10 variety matured earlier (11 days) than komboka and yielded on average 16% less than Komboka, depending on site. Average grain yields were 35% higher under 150 kgN/ha compared to 0 kg N/ha treatments. Treatment with 150 kg N/ha significantly (p&le;0.05) delayed heading and maturity by six (6) days and grain yields were significantly (p&le;0.05) lower under saline conditions of Hola. 08FAN10 variety showed comparatively better tolerance to salinity conditions than Komboka. The trial indicates that under DSR, treatment with 120 Kg N/ha and 150 Kg N/ha are optimum for 08FAN10 and Komboka varieties, respectively.

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Agronomic Practices and Grain Yields of Basmati 370 Rice Variety under Common Farmer Husbandry Practices in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kenya: A Review

Effects of Varied Nitrogen Levels on Growth and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice in Kenya