dc.contributor.author |
Mburu, Mary W. K. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Wanderi, S. W. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Silim, S. N. |
|
dc.contributor.author |
Kihanda, F. M. |
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2014-12-10T12:04:26Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2014-12-10T12:04:26Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2011 |
|
dc.identifier.citation |
Innovations as Key to the Green Revolution in Africa 2011, pp 563-570 |
en_US |
dc.identifier.isbn |
978-90-481-2541-8 |
|
dc.identifier.isbn |
978-90-481-2543-2 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-90-481-2543-2_58 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/407 |
|
dc.description |
DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-2543-2_58 |
en_US |
dc.description.abstract |
A field experiment was conducted at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology between 2001 and 2002 to determine nitrogen use in maize–pigeonpea intercrop system. The experiment was laid out as a randomized complete block design replicated four times. Treatments included two pigeonpea maturity types: two long-duration types (erect and semi-erect) and one medium-duration type intercropped with maize (Katumani Composite) or sole crop. Data on plant total N uptake, litter fall, N fixed and soil mineral N at key phenological stages were determined. Results showed that intercropping maize and pigeonpea increased maize grain N concentration compared to sole maize, an indication of nutritional quality improvement. Long-duration cultivars had the highest plant N uptake and contributed high amount of N through litter fall and biological fixation compared to medium duration. Soil mineral N increased over time, probably due to soil N mineralization or pigeonpea N contribution through litter fall decomposition which ranged from 3.9 to 7.6 t/ha. Maize yield and N uptake in subsequent season after pigeonpea were higher in plots previously planted with pigeonpea than those planted continuously with maize. In conclusion, this study showed that long-duration pigeonpeas may play an important role in low-input maize production systems primarily through N cycling (probably through capture of deep soil N pool and litter) and through biological nitrogen fixation and this improves maize yield and quality. |
en_US |
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_US |
dc.publisher |
Springer Netherlands |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Nitrogen uptake |
en_US |
dc.subject |
N fixation |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Maize–pigeonpea intercrop |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Residual effect |
en_US |
dc.subject |
Soil mineral N |
en_US |
dc.title |
Nitrogen Use in Maize (Zea mays)–Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajans) Intercrop in Semi-arid Conditions of Kenya |
en_US |