Fanya juu Terraces Improve Maize (Zea mays L.) and Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Grain Yields on Hardsetting Soils of Semi-arid Eastern Kenya

Aims: Fanya juu terraces are constructed by digging a ditch and throwing the soil up-slope with sole purpose of maintaining an embankment to slow down runoff flow. The effect on crop yields along slope varies type. aim this study was determine maize (Zea mays L.) bean (Phaseolus vulgaris how these differ positions depth ditches.
 Study Design: Split-split plot design four replications.
 Place Duration Study: trial established Luvisols in Mua location, Machakos County Eastern Kenya at 37o15’E 1o29’S during both long rain (LR) short (SR) seasons 2014 2015 (February March 2015).
 Methodology: Treatments consisted three depths (60 cm, 30 cm 0 (control)) main plots cropping systems (maize/bean intercrop, bean) sub plots. Grain were compared across upper, middle lower using analysis variance means separated least significant difference P≤0.05.
 Results: There differences grain interactions position (P=0.004) season (P<0.001). Higher realized when ditches than control. Yields increased from upper 49.8% 60 41.6%. Average treatments significantly higher control but non-significant those ditch. Significant (P=0.037) observed position. obtained positions. (P=0.033) also found depths, seasons.
 Conclusion: results indicate that had hardsetting soils. recommends construction intensive management for improved production soils marginal areas.