Effect of Intercroping Maize-Soybean on Grain Quality Traits in Kenya

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in Kenya to determine the effect of intercropping maize-soybean on soybean grain quality traits. A randomized complete block design replicated three times with seven treatments was used. Data were collected and analysed for soybean protein content, oil content and dry matter while grain size was done for maize and soybean. Data were subjected to ANOVA and means separated using LSD0.05. The results showed that TGX1990-5F variety recorded high protein content (p ≤ 0.05) in sole crop compared to intercropping with 42.96% and 38.4% respectively while SB19 obtained 36.57% and 40.41% of protein between sites for the first season. A bout the second season, TGX1990-5F gave 40.84% of protein compared to 31.98% for GAZELLE in intercrop at both sites. GAZELLE showed higher oil content followed by TGX1990-5F and SB19 was the last in both seasons. TGX1990-5F showed higher dry matter followed by GAZELLE and SB19 was the last in intercrop. In addition, GAZELLE a local variety showed greater size than SB19 in both rainy seasons. Intercropping affected slightly the protein content, oil content and gain size  than sole crop but it did not affect the dry matter in both seasons.Thus, TGX1990-5F can be recommended to small-scale farmers for intercropping with maize because it produced higher value of protein and small-scale farmers could use it to fight mal nutrition. GAZELLE variety can be also recommended for oil production. Maize grain size was not affected by intercropping system.