Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Optimizing Green Gram-Sorghum Intercropping in Dryland Kenya: The Impact of Double Row Planting on System Productivity

Bernard M. Yumbya

Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry · pp. 164–178 · Published 17 Feb 2025

10.9734/ajraf/2025/v11i1373

Abstract

Small scale farmers in dryland areas normally grow green gram (Vigna radiata L.) under sole crop system. However, studies done on intercropping systems have established that plant arrangement patterns affect crop growth and yield of the companion crops. To advance a better understanding of the effect of crop arrangement in green gram varieties intercropped with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), two field experiments were conducted in Mwala and Katangi during the 2022 short rains season in dryland areas of Kenya. This study was explored under two intercrop arrangement patterns (Single row; alternate rows of sorghum and green gram; double row, double alternate rows of sorghum and green gram) as well as checks of both sole crops. Four green gram varieties such as KS20, N26, Biashara, and Karembo were intercropped with sorghum variety Seredo. Treatments were placed in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement where crop arrangement system formed the main plots while the green gram variety assumed the subplots and replicated three times. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using R software and treatment means separated by Fisherʼs least significant difference at 5% probability. The results of the present study show that sole green gram recorded the highest yield of 0.9 t ha-1 the same way sole sorghum recorded the highest yield of 2.7 t ha-1. Variety N26 recorded highest yield of 1.0 t ha-1 despite Biashara variety recording higher seed weight than N26 by 29%. Double row recorded a higher area time equivalent ratio of 1.5, and benefit-cost ratio of 4.3. In conclusion, double row of variety N26 was found to be more efficient and profitable for adoption in southeastern Kenya. However, future research could be done across contrasting sites in different seasons and focus on the optimum spacing that can reduce intercropping competition and improve yield performance.

Area time equivalent ratio benefit-cost ratio crop arrangement intercropping system yield performance

References (28)

  1. 1 Advancing Intercropping Research and Practices in Industrialized Agricultural Landscapes [DOI]
  2. 2 Relationships among light distribution, radiation use efficiency and land equivalent ratio in maize-soybean strip intercropping [DOI]
  3. 3 Intercropping legumes and cereals increases phosphorus use efficiency; a meta-analysis [DOI]
  4. 4 Current knowledge and future research opportunities for modeling annual crop mixtures. A review [DOI]
  5. 5 Border-row proportion determines strength of interspecific interactions and crop yields in maize/peanut strip intercropping [DOI]
  6. 6 Intercropping Alters the Soil Microbial Diversity and Community to Facilitate Nitrogen Assimilation: A Potential Mechanism for Increasing Proso Millet Grain Yield [DOI]
  7. 7 Yield and nutrient uptake dissected through complementarity and selection effects in the maize/soybean intercropping [DOI]
  8. 8 Acclimation strategy and plasticity of different soybean genotypes in intercropping [DOI]
  9. 9 Perspective on crop modelling in the management of intercropping systems [DOI]
  10. 10 Weeds Spectrum, Productivity and Land-Use Efficiency in Maize-Gram Intercropping Systems under Semi-Arid Environment [DOI]
  11. 11 Canopy temperature, yield, and harvest index of corn as affected by planting geometry in a semi-arid environment [DOI]
  12. 12 Overview of Green Gram (Vigna radiata L.) Crop, Its Economic Importance, Ecological Requirements and Production Constraints in Kenya [DOI]
  13. 13 Variation in over-yielding of pulse-oilseed intercrops [DOI]
  14. 14 Maximising soybean productivity with late maturity groups in Mediterranean irrigated systems [DOI]
  15. 15 Determination of Effective Spatial Arrangement for Intercropping of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Using Competition Indices Ethiopia [DOI]
  16. 16 Effects of Spatial Row Arrangement and Time of Planting Intercrops on Performance of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under Maize (Zea mays L.)—Groundnut Intercropping System in Ejura [DOI]
  17. 17 Effect of Deficit Irrigation and Intercrop Competition on Productivity, Water Use Efficiency and Oil Quality of Chia in Semi-Arid Regions [DOI]
  18. 18 Performance and participatory evaluation of green gram genotypes in the semi-arid environments of Eastern Kenya [DOI]
  19. 19 Suitability of Green Gram Production in Kenya under Present and Future Climate Scenarios Using Bias-Corrected Cordex RCA4 Models [DOI]
  20. 20 Earliness and Crop Morphological Traits Modulate Field Pest Infestation in Green Gram [DOI]
  21. 21 Green Gram-sorghum Intercropping: Effects on Crop Microclimate, Competition, Resource Use Efficiency and Yield in Southeastern, Kenya [DOI]
  22. 22 Influence of cowpea and soybean intercropping pattern and time of planting on yield and gross monetary value of sorghum [DOI]
  23. 23 Effect of Planting Geometry and Legumes Intercropping System on the Yield of Sorghum [DOI]
  24. 24 Yields of Green Grams and Pigeonpeas under Smallholder Conditions in Machakos County, Kenya [DOI]
  25. 25 Planting System Effects on Intercropping of Gardenpea and Sorghum [DOI]
  26. 26 Response of Maize-Green Gram Intercropping to Manure and Mineral Fertilizers in Post Mined Soils [DOI]
  27. 27 Yield and yield components of intercropped dual-purpose lablab and cowpea with maize of contrasting maturities [DOI]
  28. 28 Agronomic and economic evaluation of phosphate fertilizer use in maize-bean cropping systems in Western Kenya [DOI]

Cited by 0

No indexed citations yet.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

9

Page views

0

PDF downloads

1

Outbound clicks

0

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.