"The 2010 RUFORUM Biennial Conference was the second in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of agronomy".
Effect of varying Desmodium and maize harvesting regimes on their yields and growth attributes within the “Push- Pull” intercropping systems in Western Kenya
Abstract:
This study tested the hypothesis that inclusion of Desmodium
spp. into maize cropping system under the push-pull technology
enhanced crop growth and yield. Field trials were conducted in
Siaya and Busia districts of western Kenya with the following
treatments: two Desmodium spp (Desmodium uncinatum Jacq
and Desmodium intortum Urb.) intercropped with maize, sole
maize with urea (90 kg N /ha) and sole maize without urea and
three Desmodium harvesting regimes (9, 12 and 17 weeks after
planting maize- WAPM). Maize shoots/grain harvesting and
sampling for mineral N (up to 120 cm) was conducted at 9, 10,
12, 13, 15 and 17 WAMP. Soils from both sites were acidic (pH
< 5.3), had low N (<0.091%), very low available P (<3.78 mg
P/kg) and moderate organic carbon (<2.42%). Establishment
of Desmodium was slow during the first season and maize yield
was affected drastically with the monocropped maize
performing better during the first season. It was concluded that
the intercropping system could benefit farmers only during later
cropping seasons.
Cette étude a testé l’hypothèse que l’inclusion de l’espèce
Desmodium dans le système de culture du maïs en vertu de la
technologie push-pull a amélioré la croissance des cultures et
le rendement. Des essais sur terrain ont été menées dans les
districts de Busia et Siaya de l’ouest du Kenya avec les
traitements suivants: deux espèces de Desmodium (Desmodium
uncinatum Jacq et Desmodium intortum Urb.) intercalées avec
le maïs, le maïs en monoculture avec de l’urée (90 kg N / ha) et
le maïs en monoculture sans urée et trois régimes de récolte de Desmodium (9, 12 et 17 semaines après la plantation de
maïs(WAPM). Les pousses de maïs / la récolte et
l’échantillonnage des grains pour l’azote minéral (jusqu’à 120
cm) ont été menés à 9, 10, 12, 13, 15 et 17 semaines après la
plantation de maïs (WAMP). Les sols des sites étaient acides
(pH <5,3), avaient une faible teneur en N (<0,091%), très faible
teneur en P (<3,78 mg P / kg) et une teneur modérée en carbone
organique (<2,42%). L’établissement du Desmodium a été lent
au cours de la première saison et le rendement du maïs a été
touché de façon drastique avec le maïs en monoculture de
meilleurs résultats au cours de la première saison. Il a été conclu
que le système de culture intercalaire ne pourrait être bénéfique
aux agriculteurs que pendant les dernières saisons culturales.
Language:
English
Date of publication:
2010
Country:
Region Focus:
East Africa
University/affiliation:
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
ISSN:
E_ISSN:
Edition:
Extent:
201-204
Notes:
