| dc.description.abstract | Cereal-legume combination is the common form of intercropping by most small-scale farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is because of small pieces of land owned by farmers small causing overexploitation of resources like nutrients thus low productivity leading to food insecurity. In Kenya, food insecurity is rampant leading to importation of foodstuffs. The adoption of technologies like intercropping and use of agricultural inputs have been promoted to boost crop production. In Kaimosi, Vihiga County, majority of farmers despite the adoption of intercropping system have not appreciably improved the production particularly of soya bean that has remained at 0.2t ha-1 against potential of 2.5t ha-1. Therefore, there is need to further explore the best agro-technology like optimum intercropping pattern with a view to increased productivity and thus solving the global problem of food insecurity and poverty in the county. Maize-soya beans intercropping system helps improve soil fertility, protects the farmer against total crop failure, help in curbing the issue of food insecurity and increases farmers’ income. The objectives of this study was therefore to; determine the effect of maize- soya bean intercropping patterns on growth parameters of soya beans; determine the effect of maize-soya bean intercropping patterns on Photosynthetic Active Radiation and determine the effect of maize -soya bean intercropping patterns on yield parameters of soya beans. The study was conducted in Kaimosi Friends University research farm in Vihiga County. Complete randomized block design was used with six treatments which included; sole soya beans, sole maize, 1maize:1soyabean (1M: 1S), 1maize:2soyabean (1M: 2S), 2maize-2soyabean (2M: 2S) and 2maize:4soyabean (2M: 4S) each replicated four times. Each plot measured 3m x 3m and a space of 1m was left between them. Soya bean and maize varieties used were SB19 and H513 obtained from Kenya Seed Company, Kakamega. Three seeds were planted per hole and later thinned through uprooting to retain two seedlings per hole. 50% of each crop type were randomly tagged for data collection from each treatment and data collected after every 14 days from date of sowing. The study was carried out during the long and short rain seasons. Parameters such as soya bean height, number of leaves and leaf area index; Photosynthetic Active Radiation, pod length and pod number and yield were determined from the tagged soya beans plants in each treatment. Collected data was analyzed using GenStat statistical package version 15.2 to test for the significant differences between different intercropping patterns. Findings indicated that intercropping pattern had significant impact on growth and yield parameters. However, intercropping pattern significantly increased the growth of soya bean with highest height and leaf number found in 1M:1S pattern and the least in 2M;4S, while the highest LAI evidenced in 2M:4S and the least in 1M:2S pattern. Despite intercropping increasing the height of soya beans, it was not significant. The significant increase in growth in 1M: 2S pattern was because of positive phototropism and good PAR interception that led to optimum growth rate at 70 days after planting. The amount of PAR intercepted was significantly increased by the intercropping pattern (p<0.05) with the highest PAR recorded in 1M: 2S pattern followed by 2M: 4S and the least 1M: 1S at 70 DAP. The high PAR observed in 1M: 2S pattern was due to good spatial arrangement that provided a greater PAR conversion efficiency and maximum vegetative growth that enhanced high PAR interception. Intercropping pattern had a significant increase on pod number, pod length and final yield. This was due to optimum vegetative growth and high PAR interception during the vegetative and flowering stage, which reduced flower abortion and increased photosynthate production, for optimum number of pods, pod length and yield as seen in 1M: 2S pattern. The highest number of pods were recorded in 2M: 4S while the least recorded in 1M; 1S patter. The longest pods were recorded in 1M: 2S pattern followed by 2M: 2S while the least 2M: 4S with 3.84cm, 2.78cm and 2.26cm respectively. The highest yields were recorded in 1M; 2S pattern followed by 2M: 4S and least in 1M: 1S.There was significantly strong positive relationship between yields and the growth parameters, yield parameters and PAR (p 0.05). The positive correlation could be due to availability of growth material for the intercrop. Intercropping indicated yield advantage with an LER> 1. The findings from this study suggest the 1M: 2S intercropping pattern has potential for adoption since it recorded the highest soya bean height, number of leaves, pod length, intercepted the highest PAR, dry weight yields and efficiency in material utilization. The main recommendation derived from this study is therefore for agroecologists and small-scale farmers to practice the 1M: 2S arrangement of maize and soya bean since it exhibited effectual utilization of limited resources while at the same time giving maximum returns. | en_US |
