Weed Dynamics during Transition to Conservation Agriculture in Western Kenya Maize Production

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dc.contributor.authorOdhiambo, Judith A.en
dc.contributor.authorNorton, Urszulaen
dc.contributor.authorAshilenje, Dennis S.en
dc.contributor.authorOmondi, Emmanuel C.en
dc.contributor.authorNorton, Jay B.en
dc.contributor.departmentSustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (SANREM) Knowledgebaseen
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-18T03:45:58Zen
dc.date.available2019-06-18T03:45:58Zen
dc.date.issued2015-08-03en
dc.description.abstractWeed competition is a significant problem in maize (Zea mays, L.) production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Better understanding of weed management and costs in maize inter-cropped with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) during transition to conservation agricultural systems is needed. Changes in weed population and maize growth were assessed for a period of three years at Bungoma where crops are grown twice per year and at Trans-Nzoia where crops are grown once per year. Treatments included three tillage practices: minimum (MT), no-till (NT) and conventional (CT) applied to three cropping systems: continuous maize/bean intercropping (TYPICAL), maize/bean intercropping with relayed mucuna after bean harvest (RELAY) and maize, bean and mucuna planted in a strip intercropping arrangement (STRIP). Herbicides were used in NT, shallow hand hoeing and herbicides were used in MT and deep hoeing with no herbicides were used in CT. Weed and maize performance in the maize phase of each cropping system were assessed at both locations and costs of weed control were estimated at Manor House only. Weed density of grass and forb species declined significantly under MT and NT at Manor House and of grass species only at Mabanga. The greatest declines of more than 50% were observed as early as within one year of the transition to MT and NT in STRIP and TYPICAL cropping systems at Manor House. Transitioning to conservation based systems resulted in a decline of four out of five most dominant weed species. At the same time, no negative impact of MT or NT on maize growth was observed. Corresponding costs of weed management were reduced by $148.40 ha(-1) in MT and $149.60 ha(-1) in NT compared with CT. In conclusion, farmers can benefit from effective and less expensive weed management alternatives early in the process of transitioning to reduced tillage operations.en
dc.format.extente0133976en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationOdhiambo JA, Norton U, Ashilenje D, Omondi EC, Norton JB (2015) Weed Dynamics during Transition to Conservation Agriculture in Western Kenya Maize Production. PLoS ONE 10(8): e0133976. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133976en
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133976en
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203en
dc.identifier.issue8en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/90210en
dc.identifier.volume10en
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.titleWeed Dynamics during Transition to Conservation Agriculture in Western Kenya Maize Productionen
dc.title.serialPLOS ONEen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten

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