http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/30 2026-06-10T10:06:23Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2759 HYGIENE AND MICROBIAL SAFETY OF ROADSIDE ROASTED MEAT FROM NAMAWOJJOLO AND LUKAYA FOOD MARKETS, UGANDA NANFUKA, ANNET Roadside roasted meats provide a rich source of proteins, especially for long-distance travelers. However, there are many food-borne illnesses associated with their consumption, necessitating continuous assessment of the quality and safety. The objective of this study was to investigate hygiene and microbial safety of roadside roasted meats from two food markets of Namawojjolo and Lukaya in Uganda. Using an observation checklist and questionnaire, 90 meat vendors were observed and interviewed on compliance with standard hygiene practices. Also, a total of 89 meat samples of chicken, beef and goats’ meat comprising 30 fresh (raw), 28 hot from fire and 31cold ready-to-eat meat that had been exposed to consumers for about 30 minutes, were obtained. The samples were analyzed using enriched specific media for E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus, Listeria and Campylobactor. Descriptive analysis of the hygiene practices of the vendors in meat handling was done and scores above 70% were used to determine good hygiene practices. The study found that only 6.7% vendors had good hygiene practices and 88.9% did not store leftover meat in refrigerators. Laboratory findings revealed that bacterial contamination was higher than Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) levels. Raw samples exhibited the highest contamination across all pathogens where S. aureus in raw chicken (8 ± 0.56 log10 CFU/g) and raw goat (8 ± 0.97 log10 CFU/g) far exceeded the limit. Similarly, cold samples mostly matched or surpassed hot samples in contamination. For example, cold beef showed higher Listeria counts (5 ± 1.93 log10 CFU/g) than hot beef (3 ± 2.71 log10 CFU/g). All tested meat types showed microbial contamination above UNBS safety limits for all microbes examined which is ≤2 log10 CFU/g for S.aureus and E.coli or completely absent for Salmonella, Lysteria and Campylobacter. However, S. aureus was consistently the highest for all the three meat types for example 8.4 ± 9.0 log10 CFU/g for goat meat compared to 5.5 ± 5.7 shown for Salmonella in goat meat The study found that there were food safety concerns in roadside roasted meat vending, with contamination linked to poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation measures. Fresh/raw meat had the highest contamination levels compared to hot and cold meat, highlighting significant public health risks. There is need to sensitize vendors on food safety and hygiene plus routine health inspections of these markets. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2755 EVALUATION OF AGROECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND SOIL PRODUCTIVITY OF SMALLHOLDER FARMS IN BUSIA COUNTY, KENYA NYAGUTI, SUZZETTE KERUBO Agroecological biodiversity signifies the above ground variety and variability of different biological elements in agricultural systems; crops, livestock, tree species, and farm activities. Soil productivity relates to how capable a soil is concerning supporting plant growth and maintaining agricultural production over an area and time. The term, therefore, is synonymous with physical features of the soil in question as well as chemical, which include fertility, organic matter, and microbial activity. This research initiated in 2024, was fundamentally designed to critically assess the influence of agroecological biodiversity on soil productivity within the context of smallholder farming systems in Busia County, Kenya. The overarching goal was to empirically determine if diversification practices, specifically those aligned with established agroecological principles, yield a measurable, positive effect on soil productivity indicators. To quantify the degree of agroecological biodiversity practiced by farmers, the study employed the FAO’s Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) framework. This structured approach integrated four key, interlinked indicators; crop, livestock, tree, and diversified farm activities, to derive a composite agroecological biodiversity score for each participating farmer and the study area as a whole. The requisite sample size (n=210) was purposively acquired from the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and Fisheries of Busia County's smallholder farmer population using Fisher's formula to ensure statistical representativeness. The specific criterion for inclusion was documented exposure to, and current implementation of, agroecological biodiversification practices since 2020, facilitated either by government agencies or private development entities. A random sampling technique was then strategically applied to select farmers. Six distinct administrative wards were initially identified for the study. In wards where the number of eligible farmers exceeded 35 (n>35), a simple random sampling procedure was executed using Microsoft Excel to select the final participants. For wards containing fewer than 35 farmers, or where selected farmers were unavailable or declined consent to participate, a snowball sampling method was utilized. This ensured that the target sample size of n=210 was achieved across the study area. Primary data collection was executed via a structured questionnaire survey administered using the mobile data collection platform, KoboCollect. The survey instrument was comprehensive, capturing essential information on farmer demographics, detailed inventories of crops cultivated, livestock held, and trees planted, the range of farm activities undertaken, and critically, actual maize yield data from the most recent harvesting season. The data was analysed through mixed methods evaluation using both Microsoft Excel and R software. Most of the households were male headed, with most (67.0%) in the age category of 18–35 years and 42.7% having attained tertiary education. Agriculture (87.9%) accounted as a major source of income. The observed agroecological diversity pattern showed unsustainable extents of practice: crops scored 40.5%, livestock 31.25%, trees 45.5%, and farm activities 41.75%. Despite observed diversification such as predominance of kienyeji poultry, maize cultivation, and single-species tree systems; soil productivity remained predominantly low, with most farms falling under SPI Class V (0–19%). Correlation analysis of agroecological biodiversity with soil productivity results in an R value of -0.0383, implying no significant relationship between agroecological biodiversity and soil productivity. These findings imply that although to a minimal extent v agroecological diversification exists, soil productivity is not directly influenced by it. However, the diversification might promote the resilience of soil over time, as influenced by climate change or from some other secondary intervention on soil vitality. Farm-specific interventions such as soil testing are recommended to address productivity challenges, while future research should explore the resilience benefits of agroecological biodiversity. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2754 ANALYSING THE POTENTIAL OF CARBON FARMING FOR INCOME IMPROVEMENT AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN BARINGO COUNTY, KENYA. KIPROP, JOHN Smallholder farmers in Kenya face the dual challenge of declining soil fertility and increasing vulnerability to climate change, both of which constrain agricultural productivity and household income. However, sustainable carbon farming presents an opportunity to enhance income generation through carbon trade while improving household incomes. Despite its potential, limited awareness and access to climate information hinder its full realization. This study addressed this practical problem by quantitatively examining how socio-economic factor influencing climate information for carbon farming, potential of agroforestry in generating carbon incomes, efficiency of water harvesting and management practices towards drought resilience, effect of minimal land tillage for better crop productivity and improved household livelihoods influence carbon-farming among smallholder farmers in Eldama Ravine and Baringo Central Sub- counties, Baringo county, Kenya. The study adopted a correlation design and utilized a mixed-methods approach combining structured household surveys (n = 374), field observations, and key-informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with heteroskedasticity standard errors, supported by descriptive and diagnostic tests for classical OLS assumptions. The dependent variable Carbon Farming was constructed from four measurable indicators: access to climate information, perceived carbon income, efficiency of water harvesting and management practices towards drought resilience, and effect of minimal land tillage for better crop productivity and improved household livelihoods. Empirical results demonstrated strong model performance and significant predictive capacity across all objective-specific models. The pooled regression model achieved an adjusted R² = 0.608 and F = 189.875 (p = 0.000), confirming that approximately 61% of variation in carbon-farming could be explained by the combined effects of the independent variables. Socio-economic variables such as Gender (β = 0.014, p = 0.048), (β = 0.021, p = 0.058), and household income (β = 0.062, p = 0.007) emerged as significant determinants of climate information for carbon farming, suggesting that human capital and resource endowments substantially shape farmers’ ability to adopt and sustain carbon-farming. Agroforestry, Indigenous drought tolerant agroforestry trees, Exotic drought tolerant agroforestry trees, Fruit farming and Fodder trees statistically significantly predicted Carbon incomes with R 2 = 0.545, while Water harvesting and management practices, Spring restoration and protection, Riparian restoration and protection, and Roof water harvesting statistically . R 2 = 0.681, p-values for all variable pairs exceed 0.05 indicating that the assumption of homoscedasticity was met. These findings confirm that practical, low-cost interventions yield measurable carbon and productivity benefits. The aggregated analysis further estimated an average perceived carbon income of 56.98 (KSh. 7,407.4) per month, underscoring the economic potential of verified carbon-credit participation for rural livelihoods. In conclusion, carbon farming offers a viable income-generating opportunity for smallholder farmers in Baringo County, but its success depends on improved climate information access and targeted awareness efforts. The study recommends capacity building on agroforestry and carbon farming, distribution of tree seedlings to farmers, and sensitization programs on carbon trading. Additionally, gender-sensitive approaches should be integrated into agricultural extension services to bridge the gender gap in climate information access and empower women in decision-making. Strengthening climate information dissemination channels and enhancing extension services will be crucial in optimizing the benefits of carbon farming and improving household incomes in the region. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2745 SOIL BIOASSAY AS A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL IN THE DETECTION OF SOIL- BORNE PATHOGENS OF COMMON BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris) IN WESTERN KENYA NDUATI, GABRIEL Lack of accurate and precise diagnostic tools and methods for detecting soil pathogens and their impacts on crop yields hinders the productivity of various crops, including beans. This highlights the need to link field disease severities to bioassay results to ease not only the accuracy in detection but also ensure the reliability of the predictions of crop performance. The study was set to evaluate the effectiveness of existing soil bioassays for screening, detecting, and quantifying soil-borne pathogens (Fusarium spp., Pythium spp., and root- knot nematode) and predicting impacts on grain yields and severity levels in smallholder fields. The study was conducted in 50 farmer fields in five counties across Western Kenya. Field demonstration trials consisting of four bean varieties planted on the 4 by 4 m treatment plots were established in each of the five sites. At planting, soil samples were collected for physical and biochemical analysis. A subset of the soil samples was bulked at the field level and assessed for bioassays targeting Fusarium, Pythium, and plant parasitic nematodes. The bean varieties were assessed for disease severities, and agronomic indicators recorded. The study employed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and stepwise linear regression using R software. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) indicated a significant but weak negative relationship between the Fusarium stem assay and vascular browning (r= -0.27, p = 0.0091). In addition, Pythium seed assay had no association with field root rot severity, while the root knot nematode assay showed a marginally significant but weak positive relationship with field galling infestation (r = 0.14, p = 0.05). Also, a strong negative correlation between vascular browning and bean yield (r = -0.28, p< 0.001), and between disease pressure and yield (r = -0.22, p < 0.001) was observed. A stepwise linear regression model revealed that the interaction between Fusarium stem assay infestation and pH influenced vascular browning (p< 0.001) and stand count (p< 0.01). Similarly, the interaction of Pythium seed assay infestation with POXC significantly affected stand count (p< 0.001), and the association between Root knot nematode assay infestation and stand count was influenced by soil clay content (p< 0.001). Apart from the Root knot nematode assay, the soil pathogen bioassays tested here were not effective in predicting the field incidence. However, our findings revealed the ability of the fusarium stem assay to predict other symptoms associated with disease pressure, suggesting that the bioassays result together with soil fertility assessment can led to a more effective prediction of early disease pressure and yield. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2744 EVALUATION OF IMPACTS OF INTEGRATED LIME AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON SELECTED SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND SORGHUM PRODUCTIVITY IN ACID SOILS OF WESTERN KENYA ROTICH, EDWIN This research assessed sustainable strategies aimed at enhancing soil fertility and sorghum production in the acidic soils of western Kenya. Microdosing trials were carried out in Kakamega and Siaya. These were executed under two conditions: lime- treated (4 t ha−1) and untreated (0 t ha−1), and were factorially combined with varying application rates of nitrogen (18.8, 37.5, and 75 kg ha−1) and phosphorus (6.5, 13, and 26 kg ha−1). The study employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with treatments analyzed using ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s HSD for mean separation. Results revealed liming significantly increased soil pH (from 4.50 to 6.19), reduced exchangeable Al, and improved grain N and P uptake. SOC rose across sites, with lime– fertilizer treatments showing strong positive trends. The application of lime significantly (p < 0.001) enhanced both sorghum biomass and grain yield by increasing soil pH, which in turn mitigated Al toxicity, improved root access to P, and promoted N assimilation. Micro-doses of N and P fertilizers were superior to recommended doses in grain and biomass yield, agronomic efficiency (AE), and harvest index (HI). Nutrient uptake efficiency ranged from 21.91–34.54%, with the maximum at N18.8P6.5. Increasing doses of fertilizer reduced NUE and AE. Combining 4 t ha−1 lime with N75P26 fertilizer maintained the highest gross margins and benefit–cost ratios (BCR > 2.0; p < 0.001) at sites and seasons. Seasonal differences affected profitability, with 2018- LR performing better than other years. The combined application of lime and fertilizer yielded the highest economic efficiency among the treatment options, with lime + N37.5P13 treatment proving to be the most economically viable option among the smallholder farmers. The integration of site-specific fertility management with the conventional application of lime (4 t ha−1), along with microdoses of N and P fertilizers, has the potential to rehabilitate acid-degraded soils in western Kenya, thereby significantly improving sorghum productivity and increasing farmers' incomes. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2742 AN ASSESSMENT ON TRAINING OF SMALL SCALE FARMERS IN MOIBEN SUB-COUNTY, UASIN GISHU COUNTY AFFECTS HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY YATOR, MARGARET Food security revolves around the availability, access, and intake of nutritious food. Therefore, to realize food security, trainings for farmers is often encouraged to enhance productivity. However, most small-scale farmers often rely on their traditional knowledge and patterns for farming. The main purpose of this research was to examine the establishment of a relationship between training small-scale farmers and food security and evaluate training carried out in Moiben sub-county with the aim of improving household food security status. The specific objectives were to establish the effectiveness of food production training on food security among small-scale farmers, to examine the effectiveness of financial literacy training on food security of small- scale farmers and to determine the effectiveness of adoption of agricultural technologies on food security of small-scale farmers in Moiben sub-county and socioeconomic factors influencing food security. The study adopted a mixed-methods design focusing on positivism philosophy. The target population was 10,869 small-scale farmers from which a sample size of 385 small-scale farmers within Moiben sub-county was derived. The instrument for collecting data used for the research was a questionnaire which contained items to address each objective and was able to measure household food security status using food insecurity experience-based measurement scale. The findings of food insecurity status showed that the prevalence rate for severity and moderate severe food insecurity were 40.062% and 58.74% respectively. Research experts checked validity, while reliability test was performed by use of Cronbach Alpha test and the result of reliability was set at a level of 0.81. Descriptive and inferential statistics was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 29. Inferential statistics such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC) and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis was performed to test hypotheses. Descriptive data was presented in tables, figures and pie charts, while inferential statistics was presented using multiple linear regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically as per objective as they emerged. Results indicated that, training small-scale farmers on food production improved food security by 0.036 units, increase in one unit of financial literacy increased food security by 0.102 units and increase in one unit of the adoption of agricultural technologies decreased food security by 0.000824units.Statistical significance indicated the F- ratio using Analysis of variance that training on food production, financial literacy and adoption of technologies was statistically significant at a value of P ≤ 0.05. Further, correlation analysis was conducted between socio- economic and food security was conducted education level positively correlated with food security with a value of 0.151 indicated a significant value of P ≥ 0.05. The findings are significant with regard to increasing the information available on food security to small-scale farmers where agriculture institutions act as resource centers such as KALRO (Kenya Agriculture Livestock and Research Organization), Ministry of Agriculture, academic institutions such as Universities and Colleges, and Journals. The study recommends more training session and diversity of information on areas to be trained, which directly influence food security such as new technology, and adequate awareness about the training to be conducted among small-scale farmers. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2740 INTEGRATION OF TIED RIDGES AND FERTILIZER USE TO ENHANCE WATER AND NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCIES FOR MAIZE PRODUCTION IN SEMI-ARID LANDS ALWANG’A, SUSAN Low maize (Zea mays L.) production in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) has been attributed to inadequate soil moisture and declining soil fertility. This could be improved through enhanced water use efficiency (WUE) and nutrient use efficiency (NUE). During the short rain (SR) seasons of 2013 and 2014, a study was conducted at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) – Katumani Research Station to monitor WUE, NUE and grain yield in maize production. A 2*2*4 factorial trial of cropping seasons, soil moisture conservation (tied versus untied ridging) and fertilizer types (control, CAN, FYM, CAN + FYM were set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Rainfall data was put together for the entire study period. Soil and manure analysis were also done. Soil moisture content was monitored using a neutron probe moisture meter, CPN 503-DR. Analysis of variance was executed on soil moisture, maize grain yield and water and Agronomic Nitrogen Use Efficiencies using GENSTAT statistical software 14th edition. Treatments with significant differences were separated using Tukey’s at 95% confidence intervals. In both seasons, treatment combinations under untied ridges had higher soil moisture than those in tied ridging. Plots with tied ridges had higher WUE (1.87kg mm-1 ha-1 ) compared to those with untied ridges (1.00kg mm-1 ha-1 ). Tied ridge plus FYM plots recorded the largest WUE in both SR 2013 (2.9 kg mm-1 ha-1 ), SR 2014 (3.6 kg mm-1 ha-1 ) and in overall (3.23kg mm-1 ha-1 ). On average, maize yields were 53% higher in 2013 than in 2014 SR. FYM in tied ridges resulted in larger yields (294kg ha-1 ) compared to untied ridges (152kg ha-1 ). Tied ridges (3.75kg grain-1 kg N-1 ) had higher NUE than untied (-0.75kg grain-1 kg N-1 ). In both SR 2013 (6.6 kg Nha1 ) and SR 2014 (3.6 kg Nha1 ) seasons, plus the overall mean highest NUE was observed in FYM under tied ridge plots. Application of FYM in combination with CAN and tied ridges seemed to be the best bet for increased maize yields through enhancing both NUE and WUE. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2735 THE EFFECTS OF FARMERS GROUP PERFORMANCE ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN WESTERN KENYA NASAMBU, JOYCE Many developing countries have reintroduced farmer groups into their policy agenda due to their role in accelerating technical and economic change in rural areas. In Kenya, however, farmer groups remain inadequately structured and their performance in promoting food security is not well established. Farmers in western Kenya, particularly in Bungoma and Siaya counties, depend heavily on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood, yet food insecurity persists despite the presence of numerous farmer groups. Previous studies have largely focused on the typologies, structures, and developmental stages of farmer organizations but have paid limited attention to how their performance—under different organizational regimes such as farmer groups and associations—affects household food security. This study therefore investigated the influence of farmer group performance on household food security in western Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to: examine the effect of farmer group dynamics on food security; establish the effect of farmer group output on food security; and determine the influence of gender relations on farmer group performance. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 587 farmers from 33 farmer groups across Bungoma and Siaya counties, while simple random sampling was employed to identify 371 respondent households. Quantitative data were collected through household surveys, while qualitative data were gathered through document reviews, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of SPSS (IBM), while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship between farmer group performance and household food security (F = 10.081, p < 0.001). The R value of 0.228 indicated a positive influence of farmer group dynamics and output on food security. Farmer group output (β2 = 0.152, p = 0.004) had a relatively higher effect than group dynamics (β1 = 0.13, p = 0.015). The study also found that gender disparities persist, with women contributing the majority of farm labour yet being marginalized in decision-making processes. The study concludes that strengthening farmer group performance and promoting gender equality in agricultural decision-making are essential for enhancing household food security and improving rural livelihoods in western Kenya. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2733 EFFECT OF WONDERGRO- A SOIL CONDITIONER FOR ENHANCING DI- AMMONIUM PHOSPHATE (DAP) USE EFFICIENCY IN MAIZE PRODUCTION OGUTU, DISHON Despite maize being considered a staple food crop in Kenya, its productivity is low mainly due to inappropriate soil fertility management, especially in smallholder systems. The continuous decline in soil fertility is a consequence of acidic conditions, nutrient imbalances, and sub-optimal fertilizer use, causing depressed maize yield. Use of balanced and adequate fertilizers while improving other soil conditions is a prerequisite for increasing fertilizer use efficiency and maize production. On-farm trials were conducted during the long and short rains seasons of 2023 & 2024 to asses’ performance of two formulations of WonderGro (WG3 & WG21)- a soil conditioner- in combination with the commonly applied Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer on maize yield and the economic return, under a range of soil pH (sub- optimal (pH<5.5) and optimal (≥5.5)) for maize production. Sixteen (16) study sites located in two agroecological zones (AEZ), of medium potential (western Kenya) and high potential (Rift Valley), with expected maize grain yields of 4.5-5t ha- 1 and 6-8t ha-1 , respectively, were selected for the on-farm trials. Each AEZ had eight (8) sites equally distributed in two (2) counties. The trials involved five treatments: 0 kg DAP ha-1 (absolute control), 133 kg DAP ha1 (full rate of recommended DAP application per ha-1 ), 67 kg DAP ha-1 (half rate of recommended DAP application per ha-1 ), 67 kg DAP+WG3 ha-1 and 67 kg DAP+WG21 ha-1, each replicated four (4) times. Maize production in the medium potential AEZ, in the sub-optimal pH category, use of half rate of DAP in combination with WG3, slightly increased yield by 3.5% from the use of the full rate of DAP (133kg DAP ha-1 ), with 2.8tha-1 of maize grain yield in the long rains of 2024. While in high-potential AEZ, suboptimal pH for maize production (<5.5), applying 67 kg DAP + WG21 ha-1 slightly increases yield to 5.1t ha-1 from 5.0t h-1 with application of the full rate of DAP. In high AEZ, there was no variation in maize grain yield in optimal pH, regardless of fertilizer applied, with an average of 7.3 t ha-1 and 6.1t ha-1 for 2023 and 2024 long rains, respectively. Economically, application of 67kg DAP ha-1 +WG21 had the largest Value Cost Ratio (VCR) of 7.54 and 8.24 for long rains 2023 and 2024, respectively, in sub-optimal pH in the high-potential zone. The formulations, therefore, have the potential to boost yield and for better economic returns to the farmers. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://41.89.164.27:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2732 FATE OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER IN RAINFED MAIZE SYSTEMS OF TROPICAL HIGHLANDS OF KENYA OLUOCH, KEVIN CHURCHIL Crop production in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) is often constrained by declining soil fertility associated with negative nutrient balances as a result of continuous cropping with little or no replenishment of nutrients. To offset the negative nutrient balance, especially nitrogen (N), in SSA agroecosystems and meet the ever-increasing food demand, it is paramount to intensify N fertilizer use. However, this could prove deleterious to ecosystem functioning since increased N fertilizer is associated with elevated reactive nitrogen (Nr) loading in the environment. Therefore, a study comprising increasing N fertilizer rates, 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg N ha-1 was conducted in the highland tropics of the Rift Valley, Kenya. The objective was to evaluate fertilizer-induced soil mineral N (Nmin) changes within the soil profile and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in maize monoculture systems. On average, the N application of 125 kg N ha-1 exhibited the largest NO3 - (14.8 mg kg-1 ) and NH4 + (11.85 mg kg-1 ) concentration across depth and different N rates. The annual N2O fluxes ranged from 0.33 to 0.77 kg N2O-N ha-1 across the different N rates. Additionally, yield- scaled emissions ranged from 0.07 to 0.14 g N2O-N kg-1 grain yield across different N rates. Increasing N fertiliser rates increased grain yield by 7, 14, 24, 37 and 46 % while applying 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg N ha-1 , respectively. Application of 25 kg N ha-1 gave indications of soil N mining, with a nitrogen use efficiency (NUEgrain) value of > 1, whereas the rest of the N rates had an NUEgrain value of < 1. The optimum physiological efficiency and partial-factor productivity were realised when N was supplied at 75 kg N ha-1 . Overall, the results suggest that increasing N application to 75 kg N ha-1 would not only improve grain yield but also increase soil N intensity, N2O emissions and optimise NUE. Therefore, matching crop demands through judicious N use will be critical to ensure efficient use of fertiliser N and reduce losses to the ecosystem. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z