Effect of Water Conservation Technologies on Growth and Yield of Pearl Millet with Green Gram Intercrop in Semi-Arid Kenya

Abstract

Water conservation technologies are among the climate smart agriculture practices geared towards increasing crop production in arid and semi-arid areas. Several technologies have been experimented with crops such as maize, sorghum, however, there is limited information on integrating water conservation technologies with pearl millet and green gram in an intercropping system. A field study was conducted during the 2022/2023 short rains in Kambi Mawe and Katumani. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement replicated three times. The main plots were water conservation technologies (ngolo pits, contour furrows) and Conventional tillage. The split plots comprised of sole pearl millet varieties, sole green gram varieties ad their intercrops. Data was collected on the number of primary branches, nodules, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, plant height, leaf area index, grain weight and harvest index. The land equivalent ratio was also calculated. Mean separation was calculated using Tukey HSD at 5 % probability level. Results showed that water conservation technologies and cropping systems had a significant effect on the growth parameters, yield and yield component of both pearl millet and green grams. Ngolo pits recorded significantly higher yields compared to contour furrows ad conventional tillage. Intercropping pearl millet with green grams recorded significantly higher yields compared to sole cropping.