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THE EFFECTS OF INTERCROPPING KALE WITH BEANS ON YIELD AND SUPPRESSION OF REDROOT PIGWEED UNDER HIGH ALTITUDE CONDITIONS IN KENYA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1998

F. M. ITULYA
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, Egerton University, PO Box 536, Njoro, Kenya
J. N. AGUYOH
Affiliation:
Department of Horticulture, Egerton University, PO Box 536, Njoro, Kenya
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Abstract

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Two studies were conducted in Kenya during 1993 and 1994 to determine the yield responses of kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala D.C.) intercropped with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under different redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) densities. Redroot pigweed significantly reduced both kale and bean yields, the reduction being greater in 1993 than in 1994, and being greater for beans than for kale. Redroot pigweed growth was suppressed more by beans than by kale. Food output per unit area, measured by Land Equivalent Ratios, was increased by 22–115% by intercropping kale with beans and the increase was greater under weedy conditions (38–115%) than under weed-free conditions (22–74%). The presence of beans did not affect the leaf yield of kale. The presence of kale did not affect the seed yield of beans in 1994, but consistently reduced it by about 50% in 1993, though the difference was not significant.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press