Effects of Rhizobium inoculation and cropping systems involving common bean and lablab on water use efficiency, weeds and insects pests’ infestation
Paper Details
Effects of Rhizobium inoculation and cropping systems involving common bean and lablab on water use efficiency, weeds and insects pests’ infestation
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during two cropping seasons (2015-2016) at Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) farm to determine the effect of Rhizobium inoculation and intercropping systems of maize and legumes (common bean and lablab) on soil moisture content, weeds and insect pests’ infestation. The experimental design followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a 3-factorial arrangement with 4 replications per treatment. The experimental treatments consisted of 2 levels of Rhizobium inoculation (with and without rhizobia), 2 legumes (P. Vulgaris and L. purpureus) and 5 cropping systems (sole maize or sole legumes, 1 row maize to 1 row legumes (1:1) i.e. 0 m or 0.45 m of legume from maize row, 1 row maize to 2 rows of legumes (1:2) i.e. 0.1 m or 0.2 m of legumes from maize rows). The results showed that the population of the insect pests had no significant effect between the sole crop and intercrops in both seasons while from field observation, the weeds population decreased for intercrop systems compared with sole crop system. On the other hand, soil moisture content had significant effect (P≤0.001) due to Rhizobium inoculation, legumes and cropping systems in both seasons. The result showed significant (P≤0.01) interactive effect between Rhizobium and cropping systems on insect pests’ infestation in season 1. The interaction between Rhizobium, legumes and cropping systems had significant effect (P≤0.01) on soil moisture content in both seasons. These suggest further research to identify cropping systems that will decrease insect pests’ infestation, weeds and increases soil moisture content.
Ashish D, Ista D, Vineet K, Rajveer SY, Mohit Y, Dileep G, Adesh S, Tomar SS. 2015. Potential role of maize-legume intercropping systems to improve soil fertility status under smallholder farming systems for sustainable agriculture in India. International Journal of Life Science Biotechnology and Pharma Research 4, 145-157.
Ashish K, Yadav RS. 2013. Effect of intercropping systems on intercrops and weeds. International Journal of Agriculture and Food Science Technology 4, 643-646.
Dakora FD. 2003. Defining new roles for plant and rhizobial molecules in sole and mixed plant cultures involving symbiotic legumes. New Phytologist 158, 39-49.
Dimitrije M. 2013. Crop diversification affects biological pest control. Agroznanje 14, 449-459.
Janeth C, Richard O, Karuku GN, Kathumo VM. 2014. Efficiency of combined tillage practices, cropping systems and organic inputs on soil moisture retention in Yatta Sub-County, Kenya. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 3, 287-298.
Javanshir AS, Dabbagh M, Nasab A, Hamidi A, Gholipour M. 2000. Ecology of intercropping, translation. Mashhad University of jihad publications 683-686.
Lithourgidis AS, Dordas CA, Damalas CA, Vlachostergios DN. 2011. Annual intercrops: an alternative pathway for sustainable agriculture. Australian Journal of Crop Science 4, 396-410.
Mampana RM. 2014. Cropping system effect on soil water, soil temperature and dry land maize productivity. Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Soil Science. University of Pretoria, South Africa 45-78.
Massawe PI, Mtei KM, Munishi KL, Nadakidemi PA. 2016. Effect of Rhizobium and Intercropping Systems on Soil Nutrients and Biological Nitrogen Fixation as Influenced by Legumes (Phaseolus vulgaris and Dolichos lablab). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 5, 135-149.
Najafi S, Keshtehgar A. 2014. Effect of intercropping on increase yield. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences 8, 549-552.
Ndakidemi PA, Dakora FD. 2003. Legume seed flavonoids and nitrogenous metabolites as signals and protectants in early seedling development. Functional Plant Biology 30, 729-745.
Ngome AF, Mtei KM, Mussgnug F, Becker M. 2012. Management Options and Soil Types Differentially Affect Weeds in Maize Fields of Kakamega, Western Kenya. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 2, 104-114.
Orluchukwu JA, Udensi EU. 2013. The effect of intercropping pattern of okra, maize, pepper on weeds infestations and okra yield. African Journal of Agricultural Research 8, 896-902.
Parviz Y, Abdol-Reza B, Mojtaba K, Mohammad R, Asgharipour, Amiri A. 2014. Effect of intercropping on weed control in sustainable agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Crop Science 7, 683-686.
Passioura JB, Angus JF. 2010. Improving productivity of crops in water limited environment. In sparks, D.L (Ed). Advances in Agronomy 106, 37-75.
Sarker PK, Rahman MM, Das BC. 2007. Effect of intercropping with mustard with onion and garlic on aphid population and yield. Journal of Bio-Science 15, 35-40.
Prosper I. Massawe, Kelvin M. Mtei, Linus K. Munishi, Patrick A. Ndakidemi, 2017. Effects of Rhizobium inoculation and cropping systems involving common bean and lablab on water use efficiency, weeds and insects pests’ infestation. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 10(3), 185-193.
Copyright © 2017 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.