Effect of Pigeon Pea and Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) Fertilizer on Maize Growth and Yield in a Maize-pigeon Pea Intercropping System

Abstract

Since most subsistence farmers are poorly endowed with resources and capital to buy farm inputs such as fertilizers, developing an integrated soil fertility management strategy in maize cropping systems would contribute to enhanced food security through improved crop productivity. Intercropping maize and pigeon pea is considered to be a good option since pigeon pea is drought-tolerant, can fix nitrogen and uses its deep root system to recycle important minerals such as iron from horizons inaccessible by most shallow rooted crops. The study was conceived to investigate the effects of pigeon pea and Di-ammonium phosphate fertilizer on maize growth and yields in a maize-pigeon pea intercrop.The research was conducted at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) research station in Mtwapa (39° 219’E, 4° 347’S) and Pwani University Crop Science farm (39° 44’E and 3° 50’S).The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments included application of diammonium phospshate (DAP) fertilizer and two pigeon pea as an intercrop with maize in spatial variation. The following parameters were measured: maize plant height using a tape measure, number of maize plants per plot, number of cobs per plot and maize grain yield using a weighing scale. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS statistical software and means separated using Fisher’s Least Significant difference at 5% level of significance. From the study, it was evident that pigeon pea had effects on maize plant height especially where DAP fertilizer was not applied which resulted in taller maize plants. Where fertilizer was applied, maize plants were shorter. However, intercropping of maize with pigeon pea did not have any significant effects on the number of maize cobs and yields