Effects of Integrated Use of Calliandra calothyrsus and Maize Stover with Urea on Maize Yield Components under Striga Infestation in Western Kenya

Abstract

The effect of integrated use of Calliandra or maize stover with urea on Striga infestation and maize yield components was assessed in a field experiment carried out for five consecutive seasons on a clay loam Ferralsol in western Kenya. Urea and Calliandra or maize stover were combined to supply N at 75 kg ha-1 from both sources in 0:0, 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, 0:100 ratios. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 12 treatments replicated four times was used with maize hybrid (WS 502) as a test crop. All the three ear traits (ears per plant, ear length, and ear diameter), kernels per row and grain yields were significantly higher under Calliandra (45 kg N ha-1) combined with urea (30 kg N ha-1) and Calliandra (30 Kg N ha-1) combined with urea (45 kg N ha-1) or maize stover (45 kg N ha-1) combined with urea (30 kg N ha-1) and maize stover (30 kg N ha-1) combined with urea (45 kg N /ha-1). Number of ears per plant was a major yield component and accounted for (R2=0.74) of the variation in grain yield under Striga. Stepwise regression analysis showed ears per plant to be the most important yield component under Striga infestation (R2=0.58) followed by kernels per row (R2=0.38).