LANGAT M.C., OKIROR M.A., OUMA J.P., GESIMBA R.M.
Abstract
This study was carried out at Busia Farmers’ Training Center during the short rains of 1998 and long rains of 1999. The objective was to come up with groundnut - sorghum intercropping spacings that are appropriate in land use efficiency, yield, and monetary returns compared to monocropping. It comprised six treatments: four intercrops (GS1-4) and two sole crops of groundnut (G) and sorghum (S). The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The populations of groundnut and sorghum in the intercrop affected their performance. The highest sorghum grain yield (3846 kg/ha) was found in GS4 (two groundnut rows alternated with two sorghum rows) in 1998 and in GS3 (one groundnut row alternated with two sorghum rows) with 3825 kg/ha in 1999. The highest groundnut yield was realized in GS2 (two groundnut rows alternated with one sorghum row) with 1045 kg/ha in 1998 and (790 kg/ha) in 1999. In terms of land use efficiency, GS4 was the best pattern, with LERs of 2.12 (1998) and 2.01 (1999). Similarly, the highest cash returns were also from GS4 in both seasons. Therefore, for maximum use of land and with no crop preference, GS4 is the best combination to use. However, if priority is to maximize sorghum yield, then GS3 is recommended.
Key words:
intercropping, sorghum, groundnut, yield, cash income.