Authors :
Wasikoyo Erastus Masika; Harun Ogindo Okello; George Duncan Odhiambo
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 1 - January
Google Scholar :
http://tinyurl.com/bde2h9h4
Scribd :
http://tinyurl.com/3p93ske4
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10642770
Abstract :
Maize is a staple food with a high per capita
consumption averaging 125 Kgs per person annually in
Kenya. However, its low yields associated with climate
change, declining cultivable land and reduced soil
fertility posing a serious threat to food security. To
ensure increased crop yields, apt intecropping systems
and management has to be adopted to meet the ever
increasing demands. Field experiments were carried out
in Kisii and Kisumu counties over two seasons; to
determine the effect of intercropping maize with selected
agroforestry species on maize yields and Harvest Index
(HI). The treatments consisted of; maize no-fertilizer,
maize+banana+Caliandra (MBC), maize+banana+
Leucaena (MBL), maize+ banana+ Sesbania (MBS),
maize+ banana (MB) and maize+ fertilizer arranged in a
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three
replications. Agroforestry species were planted six
months before maize both in 2018 Short rains (SR) and
2019 Long Rains (LR). Maize-fertilizer treatment was
applied with 35 Kgs P/ha and 85 Kgs N/ha. Maize
fertilizer had significantly high grain yields in Kisumu
LR (3.98 t/ha) which was statistically similar to MBS
(3.72 t/ha). In Kisii, Maize fertilizer in SR (4.62 t/ha) and
LR (5.0 t/ha) with Maize No fertilizer (5.0 t/ha) had
significantly high yields. Maize fertilizer biomass in Kisii
SR was 26.4 t/ha and 15.8 t/ha in LR which was
significantly similar to Maize No fertilizer (13.9 t/ha) and
MBS (13.8 t/ha). Intercropping systems had a significant
effect on maize yields and Harvest Index. Maize fertilizer
recommended to obtain higher grain and biomass yields
in Kisumu and Kisii.
Keywords :
Intercropping Systems, Agroforestry, Maize Yields, Harvest Index.
Maize is a staple food with a high per capita
consumption averaging 125 Kgs per person annually in
Kenya. However, its low yields associated with climate
change, declining cultivable land and reduced soil
fertility posing a serious threat to food security. To
ensure increased crop yields, apt intecropping systems
and management has to be adopted to meet the ever
increasing demands. Field experiments were carried out
in Kisii and Kisumu counties over two seasons; to
determine the effect of intercropping maize with selected
agroforestry species on maize yields and Harvest Index
(HI). The treatments consisted of; maize no-fertilizer,
maize+banana+Caliandra (MBC), maize+banana+
Leucaena (MBL), maize+ banana+ Sesbania (MBS),
maize+ banana (MB) and maize+ fertilizer arranged in a
Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three
replications. Agroforestry species were planted six
months before maize both in 2018 Short rains (SR) and
2019 Long Rains (LR). Maize-fertilizer treatment was
applied with 35 Kgs P/ha and 85 Kgs N/ha. Maize
fertilizer had significantly high grain yields in Kisumu
LR (3.98 t/ha) which was statistically similar to MBS
(3.72 t/ha). In Kisii, Maize fertilizer in SR (4.62 t/ha) and
LR (5.0 t/ha) with Maize No fertilizer (5.0 t/ha) had
significantly high yields. Maize fertilizer biomass in Kisii
SR was 26.4 t/ha and 15.8 t/ha in LR which was
significantly similar to Maize No fertilizer (13.9 t/ha) and
MBS (13.8 t/ha). Intercropping systems had a significant
effect on maize yields and Harvest Index. Maize fertilizer
recommended to obtain higher grain and biomass yields
in Kisumu and Kisii.
Keywords :
Intercropping Systems, Agroforestry, Maize Yields, Harvest Index.
