Abstract

The response of soybean varieties J499, SCS-1 and La suprema, with different growth habits, to intercropping conditions when grown in association with maize H614D was evaluated in a study at Bukura Agricultural College (0° 06'' N; 34° 50'' E), Kenya. The soybean was sown either at the same time as maize or two weeks later in pure stands or intercropped with maize either in the same hill or in alternate rows. The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Data collected included grain yield, 100 seed weight, percentage germination, and analytical purity among others. Among the three soybean varieties J499 had significantly higher percentage analytical purity (92%) than SCS1 (84%) and La suprema (82%). In terms of % germination, J499 had the highest (93.3%), followed by SCS1 (87.5%) and lastly La suprema irrespective of the intercropping pattern and sowing time. Intercropping La suprema two weeks later in maize led to a 30% increase in 100-seed weight. Sowing at the same time as maize led to a significant difference in seed weight among the varieties, with J499 being the highest (15.1 g) and La suprema the lowest (12.7 g). However, no significant difference was observed when they were sown two weeks later. Among the three varieties, J499 had the lowest number of pods per plant and SCVS-1 the highest. Yields (Kg/ha) of soybean sown in pure stands at the same time as maize were significantly higher (509.9 Kg/ha) than that sown two weeks later (280.2 Kg/ha). The difference in yield between soybean sown at the same time as maize and that sown two weeks later in row intercropping was about 400%. For sowing times pure stands yielded significantly higher soybean yields than intercrops. From the findings it can therefore be concluded that the seed of soybean variety J499 grown as an intercrop has suitable quality attributes to be used as seed.

Key words: Seed quality, Intercropping patterns, maize H614D, soybean varieties, sowing time.