Odhiambo, Jude J. O. and Ogola, John B. O. and Madzivhandila, Thendo
(2010)
Effect of green manure legume - maize rotation on
maize grain yield and weed infestation levels.
African Journal of Agricultural Research , 5 (8).
pp. 618-625.
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Abstract
The use of green manure legumes (GLM) as cover crops in rotation with maize has the potential to
enhance maize yields. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of GML - maize rotation
system on (i) maize growth and yield and, (ii) weed infestation levels. The two year (2007/8 and 2008/9
seasons) rotation system consisted of five GML cover crops, viz. mucuna, lablab, sunhemp, cowpea
and butterfly pea followed by maize. GML biomass ranged between 0.8 and 13.6 Mg ha-1, while nitrogen
(N) content ranged between 10 and 279 kg N ha-1. Maize grain yield following GML ranged between 2.6
and 10.59 Mg ha-1. In 2007/8 season cowpea, mucuna, lablab and sunhemp plots had a lower weed dry
matter (5.30, 11.97, 5.83 and 21.03 g m-2, respectively) than the control (+N) (49.47 g m-2). In 2008/9
season, at 6 - 8 WAP, control (+N) had a higher weed dry matter than the other treatments, except of
butterfly pea. The dominant weed species were Mexican ricardia (Ricardia brasiliensis), Yellow
nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), Guinea-fowl grass (Rottbollia cochinchinesis), Witch weed (Striga
asiatica), Bermuda grass and Cynodon species. Green manure legume fallows can increase maize grain
yield significantly and suppress the weed population as compared to natural fallow. However,
maximizing biomass production and N accumulation is critical in order to reap the benefits of green
manure. Hence, integrating GML into the existing cropping system will require that appropriate timing
for planting GML be well established.
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