| dc.description.abstract | Protein malnutrition is widespread in developing countries due to prohibitive cost
and low availability of animal protein foods and limited purchasing power of
vulnerable groups. To ensure sufficient proteins for these vulnerable groups,
alternative sources of cheap non-animal proteins must be sought. Grain amaranth
is a promising option for meeting the protein requirements of the vulnerable
groups in developing countries. It is a readily available and cheap plant food with
protein quality and quantity comparable to those of animal foods. However, the
crop is relatively new in Kenya. Its adoption and grain yields are low. In Kisumu
West District, only 200 ha of the crop are grown annually against a cropped up
area of 5800ha. The average grain yield is 1 t/ha compared to 2.5 t/ha achieved in
other parts of the country. Determination of optimal fertilizer application rates and
suitable intercropping patterns with staple crops could increase adoption and
production. A strategy to boost production can be developed if current farmers'
knowledge levels, utilization and perceptions of the crop together with agronomic,
cultural and environmental factors that limit crop production and consumption are
determined. Against this background, a survey was conducted in 2008 to
document current knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding grain
amaranth production and utilization in Kisumu West District, Kenya. Information
was obtained from secondary sources and further investigated through Focus
Group Discussions, key informant interviews and questionnaires administered to
84 farmers selected using stratified sampling techniques. Field experiments were
conducted at the Maseno University Farm in the short rain season of 2008 and the
long rain season of 2009 to determine the effect of intercropping grain amaranth
with maize or beans and response of grain amaranth to nitrogen fertilizer and
cattle manure. The rates of inorganic fertilizer tested were 0, 30, 60 and 100 kg
N/ha. Cattle manure was applied at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 t/ha. The experiments
were laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times.
Single and double row intercrop arrangements were tested. Land equivalent ratios,
aggressivity, relative crowding coefficients, competition ratios and gross margins
for the intercrops were measured.
Farmers' knowledge on grain amaranth processing (34.6%), utilization (34.6%)
and medicinal value (13.2%) was low. Farmers identified and ranked seven
constraints to grain amaranth production as; unreliable rainfall (60.7%); lack of
awareness on crop husbandry and utilization (53.6%); lack of seed (38.1 %); lack
of market (33.3 %); competition with other cereals (23.8%); inadequate capital
(3.6%) and pests and diseases (2.4%). Double row intercrops had higher land
equivalent ratios (1.44 -1.51) compared to single row (1.11-1.15) grain amaranth
intercropping arrangements. In all intercropping arrangements, bean and maize
intercrops showed variable LERs. In single row plant arrangements, maize and
beans were dominant over grain amaranth but in double row intercrop
arrangements, grain amaranth proved to be a better competitor. Maize showed the
highest values of aggressivity (0.37), relative crowding coefficient (2.96) and
competitive ratio (1.39) in single row arrangement. In double row intercrop
arrangement, grain amaranth had the highest values of 0.38, 15.49 and 1.81 for
aggressivity, relative crowding coefficient and competitive ratio, respectively.
The highest grain yields, 2.1 and 1.94 t/ha, were achieved at the N rate of 100
kg/ha in 2008 and 2009 respectively. When manure was applied, the highest grain
yields of 0.67 and 0.79 t/ha were obtained at the manure rate of 3 t/ha.
Over the two years, bean/grain amaranth intercrop had 64% more returns
compared to maize/grain amaranth intercrop. The optimum fertilizer rates based
on regression analysis were 87.5 kg N/ha of inorganic fertilizer and 9.0 t/ha of
cattle manure.
The current results show that intercropping maize with grain amaranth is more
compatible compared to bean/grain amaranth intercrop. Grain amaranth can be
intercropped with maize or beans in either single or double rows but preferably in
double rows for greater yield advantages. It is recommended that grain amaranth
production in the district be done using inorganic fertilizer at the rate of 87.5 kg
N/ha or cattle manure at the rate of 9.0 t/ha. Concerted efforts by all stakeholders
would be required to address farmers' constraints in a holistic way to ensure
sustainable production of grain amaranth. Further work should be done to
determine the performance of the crop with application of a combination of
organic and inorganic fertilizers. This is in addition to the socio-economic
implications for introducing grain amaranth in the district. | en |
