Evaluation of Three Maize Varieties Intercropped With Cowpea Under Tillage and No-till Practices in Western Kenya

Abstract

Over the years, mono-cropping and conventional tillage have been a hindrance to adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) in Western Kenya. Intercropping maize with legumes while practicing CA can be beneficial to improvement of maize yield. This study sought to assess and evaluate yields of maize in maize-legume inter-crop under no tillage and conventional tillage in Western Kenya. To compare the two tillage regimes, the study was carried out in Western Kenya specifically in Kisumu and Busia Counties. The experiments were conducted at KALRO Alupe and Kibos research stations and farmers’ fields during 2015 short rains and 2016 long rains. The field experiments involved three varieties of maize (H12, H528 and HB505) and two cropping systems (sole establishment and inter-crops). A split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design was used to lay out the treatments. The main plot was assigned to tillage practices, the subplot was assigned to cropping systems and the sub sub plot was used for maize varieties. The land preparation was done using the hand hoe on the tilled part and by leaving the crop residues on the no tillage part. Before planting, the base fertilizer was applied at a rate of 100kg/ha. The plant spacing used was 75 cm x 30 cm for maize and 37.5 cm x 20 cm for cowpea. Plant height, number of leaves, number of plants, cob length, rows per cob, kennel per row, and grain yield for maize were among the information gathered. For the cowpea, plant height, number of leaves, number of plants and grain yield were collected. Using GenStat software, the collected data were subjected to a variance analysis, and means were separated using the least significant difference test at P≤0.05. The results showed that maize crops grown on no tilled part were significantly taller P≤0.05 in both research stations, with a higher number of kennels per row in Alupe and higher grain yield in the farmers field in Alupe and greater number of cowpeas leaves in on farm in Kibos compared to the ones grown on tillage part. The yield of maize was considerably P≤0.05 higher on tilled land than on uncultivated land. Intercropping maize and cowpea resulted in a significantly P≤0.05 higher number of plants in Alupe and plant height in Kibos on stations. Maize intercropped with cowpea had a significantly P≤0.05 higher number of rows per cob than on the sole crop. However, in cowpea, the number of plants per plot was significantly P≤0.05 higher in the sole cropped plot than in the intercropped plots. The variety H12 outperformed others in plant height, number of leaves, number of plants, cob length, number of kennels per row and grain yield on both on farm and on station sites. In addition, cowpea plant height was significantly P≤0.05 higher when x intercropped with H12 maize variety than other varieties. Growing maize on no-tilled land improved the growth parameters but not the yields, intercropping maize with cowpea also affected growth than yield parameters. It is then recommendable to conduct more research studies to confirm to farmers in Western Kenya that they can plant H12 maize variety to obtain higher maize grain yield. Further research studies should be carried out to find out cowpea-intercrop growth and yield performance under conservation and conventional tillage practices. The study conducted for only two seasons thus additional studies are required to avail to farmers adoptive conservation agriculture practices for better yields