Rain Fed Rice-Legume Based Cropping Systems For Sustainable Food Security and Incomes for the Small Scale Farmers

Abstract

Increase in the world population particularly in the Eastern Africa regions has increased the demand for food significantly. In view of this, the present system of sole cropping cannot meet the diversified food needs of the small scale farmers. Field study of rained NERICA rice-legume based cropping systems was investigated and evaluated in western Kenya, at KARI-Kibos and Busia Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) during the year 2011112. The objectives of the study were: l. to determine the effects of NERICA 11 rice/common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) intercrop on yields of rice, 2. To determine the effect of rainfed rice/ legume cowpea and common bean intercrop on rice yield, 3. To monitor soil fertility dynamics associated with rice legume intercrop and to determine the economic viability of rice-legume intercrop. The treatments combination were single row rice + single row of beans, single row rice + single row of cow pea, single row rice + double row of beans, single row rice + double row of cow pea, double row rice + single row of beans, double row rice + single row of cow pea, double row of rice + double row of beans and double row of rice + double row of cow pea. These were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) across two locations. Results showed that a ratio of 1: 1, single row of rice planted with single row of beans was different (P≤0.05) from single row rice alternated with single row cow pea, while at a ratio of 1 :2, single row rice alternated with double row beans and double cowpea were different (P≤0.05). However, double row rice against single rows of beans and single row cowpea were not different (P≤.05). The biological efficiency of intercropping, measured in terms of Land Equivalent Ratio (LERs), at the ratio of 1: 1 also showed that intercropping rain fed NEREICA rice with cowpea has a high compatibility factor of 1.84 and a derived intercrop benefit of 0.84 compared with bean intercrops (1.16) whose derived benefits was 0.16.