Effect of Integrating Tied ridging, Fertilizers and Cropping Systems on Maize Performance’ in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Eastern Kenya
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Date
2019
Authors
Mwende, N.
Danga, B. O.
Mugwe, Jayne
Kwena, K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Education, Science and Technology (AJEST)
Abstract
The main cause of food insecurity in the semi–arid parts of Eastern Kenya is decline in soil
fertility, unsuitable cropping systems, low and unreliable rainfall. This has led to low food
productivity. An experiment was carried out in semi-arid parts of Eastern Kenya during short
rains 2014 and long rains 2015 to determine the effect of tied ridges, fertilizers and cropping
systems on growth parameters, yields and yield components of maize. The experiment was a 2
x 4 x 2 factorial laid in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that,
interaction between tied-ridges x fertilizers x cropping systems had a significant effect
(P<0.05) on plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf length, leaf width and leaf area.
Treatment combinations with maize mono crop resulted to increased vegetative growth
compared to treatment combinations of maize cow pea intercrop. During the short rains 2014,
treatment combinations of flat bed planting, farm yard manure 5t/ha + 20kgN/ha in maize
mono crop recorded the highest value for vegetative growth. However, during the long rains
2015, treatment combinations of tied-ridging with 20kgN/ha in maize mono crop had
increased vegetative growth. The interaction between tied ridging x fertilizers x cropping
system was significant (P < 0.05) on ears weight, biomass and grain yields. The highest value
for grain yield was registered by tied ridging with farm yard manure 5t/ha in maize mono crop
and tied ridging plus 20kgN/ha in maize mono crop (0.15t/ha); an increase of 650% above the
control treatment. Variations in seasonal rainfall affects the effectiveness of soil and water
management practices. From this study, farmers in semi-arid regions of Eastern Kenya could
adopt farm yard manure 5t/ha or 20kgN/ha with maize mono crop under tied ridging in order
to improve maize yields in seasons when the rain fall amount is below average.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Tied ridges, Fertilizers, Cropping systems, Yield components
Citation
African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, September, 2019, Vol 5, No. 2