EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERCROPPING FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana) VARIETIES WITH COMMON BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris) ON WEED MANAGEMENT AND YIELD IN TRANS - NZOIA COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Weed infestation is considered as one of the most important constraints affecting finger millet production causing significant yield losses. Management of weeds is important for enhancing the productivity of finger millet. Recent research efforts suggested that intercropping legumes with cereals can have potential for weed suppression and may decrease the need to use herbicides. This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of intercropping finger millet varieties with common bean on weed management and yield. Field experiments were conducted on- farm at Kiminini SubCounty in Trans-Nzoia County. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) over two seasons (2020 short rains and 2021 long rains season). The three improved finger millet varieties (Gulu- E, U-15 and P-224) and common bean variety (Rosecoco) were used. Each finger millet variety was grown in monoculture and intercropped with beans. The treatments were replicated three times giving a total of 27 plots. The plots measured 1.8 m x 1.5 m each and a path of 0.5 m was used to separate one plot from the other. Parameters that were recorded during the growing season on weeds included; weed type, weed count and weed biomass while for finger millet included; plant height at physiological maturity/grain milk stage, panicle length, days to 50% flowering, number of tillers per plant, dry grain yield (kg/ha) and days to 50% physiological maturity. The parameters that were measured and recorded on beans included; plant height, leaf width, number of pods per plant; number of seeds per pod, dry grain yield (kg/ha), days to 50% physiological maturity, days to 50% flowering and 100-grain weight. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine the effects of seasons, treatments and their interaction using the mixed procedure of SAS (Institute 2012) software. The means of seasons, treatments and their interaction were compared by least significance difference at P < 0.05. The sole cropping recorded the highest weed count and weed biomass. Finger millet -bean intercrop recorded the lowest values of weed count and weed biomass which to led to the increase in the finger millet yield. The long rains season recorded significantly higher weed biomass than short rains season. Intercropping is an effective approach of weed management. It also enhances growth and development of finger millet. Farmers should be encouraged to grow finger millet varieties intercropped with different leguminous crops to assist in weed suppression and improve finger millet yield.