| dc.description.abstract | Two experiments were conducted during the short rainy season of October 1989 to April
1990to study the effect of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer application on the intercrops
of maize and pigeon pea on their growth, yield and yield components. One experiment
was sited at the Field Station of Faculty of Agriculture, Kabete and the other at Machakos
Farmers Training Centre, Machakos.
Maize (zea mays L.Katumani Composite B) was intercropped with pigeonpea (Cajanus
cajan) in alternating rows and nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers applied at 0, 20, 40 and
60 kg N or P/ha each as calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and triple super phosphate
(TSP) respectively. Half of nitrogen was applied at planting and the remaining half topdressed.
The effects of all combinations of the fertilizer rates on the growth, yield and
yield components of the intercrops were studied. The treatments were replicated three
times.
The results showed that application of nitrogen fertilizer did not have any significant
effects on the pigeonpea component under the intercropping system at both sites. On
maize, however, nitrogen showed significant increasing effect on yield at Machakos while
it had non-significant effects at Kabete. It also showed significant effects on the number
of kernels per row at Machakos and not at Kabete. Nitrogen had no significant effect on
all other parameters monitored.
Phosphorus increased shoot dry 'weight of maize significantly at Machakos but showed
no significant effect at Kabete. All other remaining parameters studied did not show any
significant effect on all the monitored parameters of pigeon pea at both locations.
These observations led to the conclusion that when applying fertilizers under
intercropping systems, nitrogen should be applied to cereal component only while
phosphate should be applied to both crops. | en |
