Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems Under Conservation Agriculture In Eastern Kenya

Abstract

The effects of conservation agriculture (CA) practices in maize-legume cropping systems were investigated in the eastern region of Kenya during the 20 I 0 short rains (November-December) season. Two beneficiary communities in two agro-ecological zones were therefore identified to host the 21 on-farm exploratory trials. Two best-bet CA treatments and conventional tillage practices were tested through on-farm trials against farmers' and conventional practices. The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design where each experimental farm served as a replicate. The results showed that conventionally tilled plots gave high (PSO.05) maize grain yield ranging between 0.23 - 2.67 t/ha compared with other tillage practices. The farmers' practice gave the least yield that ranged between 0.13 - 2.43 tlha between farms and sites. However, bean yields were higher under furrows and ridges than other treatments. Full CA benefits usually accrue with time and therefore, long term experimental data should be collected and compared over time to provide conclusive results.