PROJECT TITLE EFFECT OF TIED RIGDES AND PLANT POPULATION ON PRODUCTIVITY OF COMMON BEAN AND PIGEON PEA IN EASTERN AND CENTRAL KENYA

MIRIAM W. WAINAINA (A56/75496/2012) (MSc AGRONOMY ) SUPERVISORS Dr. GEORGE CHEMINIG’WA Dr. ANTHONY ESILABA- KARI

INTRODUCTION Agricultural sector in Kenya is still the backbone of the national economy but is still far from potential. It contributes 26% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 60% of the export earnings. About 80% of the Kenyan population lives in the rural areas and derive their livelihood largely from agriculture (Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture: ) Nearly 90% of staple food production will continue to come from rain-fed smallholder farming system.

Rain-fed agriculture will therefore remain vital for food security in Kenya. However due to the current season to season variability of rainfall climate change has stagnated rain-fed agricultural productivity. Improving water management and transforming land use for better and sustainable utilization and management to restore productivity can envision productivity to contribute significantly to countries economy(GOK)

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) are increasingly becoming important legume crops of rain-fed agriculture especially in the ASAL areas Consumed as mature grain, immature seed as well as vegetable both leaves and pods especially common bean. Are the major source of high level of cheap proteins contributing up to one-third of the dietary proteins needs of human population globally (Sehmi.J.K.1998). Both contains amino acids like lysine and tryptophan (Miklas et al. 2006) and mineral nutrients such as iron and zinc

Pigeon pea is a drought tolerant legume grown in semiarid tropics though well adapted to several environments (Troedson et al., 1990). The crop represents about 5% of world legume production (Hillocks et al.,2000). Drought poses one of the most important environmental constrains to plant survival and productivity Pigeon pea remains one of the most drought tolerant legumes (Velenzuela and Smith; 2002)

Statement of the problem Most small-scale farmers in the dry areas cultivate bean and pigeon pea crops without using appropriate crop spacing. This has led to low yields in production due to farmers using low plant population. Other constraints are unpredictable weather pattern causing prolonged droughts due to climate change. Farmers lack knowledge in conserving the moisture for the available water

Justification Food insecurity is the major challenges in sub Saharan countries including Kenya. Beans and pigeon pea are versatile crops and are preferred by farmers even in the unstable environments of low moisture and are easily intercropped with other cereals. Due to the climate change caused by global warming, increase in temperature is threatening the production of these crops.

It is imperative to investigate the appropriate agronomic management and production challenges encountered by these farmers in coping with the dynamics of the climate change. This is by use of tied ridges in moisture conservation and use of the optimal plant population for high yields. Studies done by KARI-Marigat has shown that use of tied ridges as water harvesting and moisture conservation has increased yields in sorghum and millet among other crops in dry areas.

Tied ridges have an advantage of retaining rainwater within furrows and prevent runoff. Ties provide good insurance against collapse of ridges during heavy rains and loss of rain water by discharge from the ends of furrows

Broad objective To assess direct and interaction effects of moisture conservation and plant population on productivity of legume crops under different temperature regime

Specific Objectives 1)To determine the appropriate plant population density for common bean and pigeon pea production in different agro-ecological environment 2)To evaluate the effectiveness of tied ridges practices to enhance common bean and pigeon pea productivity

Hypothesis High plant population will result on low yield Tied ridges will have no effect on moisture conservation

Sites Study will be conducted in three sites namely KARI OR Joro Olok, KARI- Katumani and CAVS- Kabete Campus.

Materials and Methods Two legumes crops will be used for the study. Dry seeds of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) will be the test crops. Phosphorus fertilizer will be applied in blanket for planting

There will be three treatments of plant densities: low, medium and high These densities will be superimposed on two soil and water conservation management practices i.e. Tied ridges and Normal Tillage Treatments will be factorial experiments with twelve treatments (2x3x2) replicated thrice

 Plant population of bean: Low(P0) (spacing within the row – 20cm), Medium (P1) (15cm) and High (P2)(12cm)  Crops: Medium duration varieties of bean (C1) and Pigeon pea (C2)

Experimental design and Layout The trial will be conducted using split-split design The main plots will represent the two soil water management practices (W0 and W1), Sub-plots three plant population (P0, P1 and P2) and sub-sub plots of two crops common bean(C1) and Pigeon pea (C2) Main plot: 6mx30m Sub-plots: 6mx10m Sub-sub plot size: 6mx5m Number of plots: 36

There will be randomization of the treatments in the whole plot, sub-plots and sub-sub plots

Methodology  Land will be prepared using normal land preparation procedure and details of all operations will be recorded  Area will be divided into 3 blocks each measuring 6mx60m separated by 1m walk way  12 plots of 6mx5m within each block will be marked. 1.0m pathway between main plots will be provided. No free space is required between sub-plots  Plots will be numbered and a map of field layout of plots will be prepared

Soil samples from different depth will be collected using an auger The treatments will be assigned randomly following the three step randomization process described. Treatment number will be entered into the field layout plan prepared Crops will be planted using recommended spacing between row spacing for bean is 45cm and for pigeon pea is 100cm. At this row spacing each plot will have 13 rows of bean and 6 rows of pigeon pea.

40kg of phosphorus per hectare will be applied during planting Within the row plant spacing depends on the crop and plant population. Suggested spacing between and within rows: Bean: spacing within the row is: Low- 20cm; Medium- 15cm; High-12cm Pigeon pea: Spacing within the rows: Low;40cm; Medium; 30cm; High; 24cm

All plots will be maintained weed free throughout the period of crop growth by hand weeding Also plots will be kept free from pests and diseases by doing need based plant protection Time of harvesting depends on the crop. Crop will be harvested at maturity from designated sample area. Seeds will be air dried and dry matter together with seed yield will be recorded

Data to be collected  Site characteristics data: This will includes latitude, soil texture and depth, slope length(m)  Climate data which includes daily rainfall (mm), daily maximum and minimum temperature ( oC)  Crop phenology will comprise cultivar name, days to germination, days to 50% flowering, number of leaves and plant height  Crop growth data will be total biomass at harvest (kg/ha), grain yield (kg/h), final plant population(plts/m2)

 Management data will includes data for all operations (sowing, thinning, weeding, tillage (type), fertilizer application harvesting  Data collected will be analyzed for mean comparison using ANOVA

Expected Output 1)The optimum plant population density for common bean and pigeon pea will be determined 2)The most effective practice for water conservation in production of common bean and pigeon pea will be established 3)MSc Thesis produced

Workplan ActivityJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec 2012 Concept notes and sites selection xxx Land preparation and trial experiment xxx Data collection xx 2013 Repeat experiment and data collection xxxxx Data analysis and Thesis preparation xxxxx 2014 Submit Thesis draft xxx Defend Submit final Thesis and graduate xxxxxx

Proposed Budget ItemAmount (Ksh) Land preparation30,000 Casual Labour100,000 Inputs20,000 Communication costs5000 Travel costs20,000 Daily Subsistence allowances50,000 Fungicides, insecticides and sprays30,600 Fuels and lubricants for transport50,000 Purchase of certified crop seeds5000 Purchase of Stationeries4000 Photocopying papers3000 Total cost267,000

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