INTRODUCTION
Kenya sugar industry is a key contributor to poverty reduction and national development [Kenya Sugar Research Foundation (KESREF), 2010]. Low sugarcane productivity has been widespread and persistent in all the growing zones in western Kenya over the last decade [Kenya Sugar Board (KSB), 2012] despite the release of improved sugarcane varieties during the period (KESREF, 2007). This indicates that factors other than sugarcane varieties may be responsible for low productivity. About 13 improved sugarcane varieties have been developed and released for commercial production but their nutrient use efficiencies are unknown. Two of the improved varieties (D8484 and KEN 83-737) are included in the current study. Several research studies indicated low sugarcane productivity as a problem (Odada 1987; Wawire et al., 1987; Nyongesa 1992; KESREF 2002, 2003). But the Authors have never evaluated the factors that are responsible for low sugarcane production. So, we hypothesized that unsustainable sugarcane cropping systems might be major contributing factors for low productivity. This study focussed on sugarcane cropping systems and their productivities.