Effect of Intercropping Maize and Promiscuous Soybean on Growth and Yield

An study was carried out in Kenya to assess the suitability of three promiscuous soybean varieties (SB19, GAZELLE and TGX1990-5F) intercropped with Maize (Duma 43). A randomised complete block design was used replicated three times with seven treatments. The arrangement of intercropping was 1:1. Data collection included germination %, plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to 75% maturity, yield biomass per plant, 100 grain weight, grain yield, harvest index and Land Equivalent Ratio for both crops. Shattering score, pods per plant, and seeds per pod for soybean only. Data were subjected to ANOVA and means separated using LSD0.05. The results showed that the earliest variety to 50% flowering and 75% maturity was SB19 (p ≤ 0.05) followed by GAZELLE while the latest variety was TGX1990-5F. Intercropping did not affect days to 50% flowering, days to 75% maturity and seeds per pod. Variety TGX1990-5F was resistant to pod shattering while others were moderately resistant. TGX1990-5F recorded the highest plant height, pods per plant, soybean biomass, grain yield and LER while GAZELLE had higher HI and SB19 recorded higher seeds per pod in sole crop and in intercrop in both sites and rainy seasons. Intercropping reduced soybean plant height, pods per plant, soybean yield biomass, soybean grain yield and soybean HI in both sites and seasons. LER showed advantage between component crops in both seasons.TGX1990-5F was suitable promisuous soybean variety for intercropping with maize because it had good perfomance under intercropping compared to others.