Stellamaris N. Mulika is an MSc student at the university of Nairobi
pursuing a Master’s degree in Agronomy. She has done her research
on the effect of plant spacing and rhizobial inoculation on growth,
nodulation and yield of selected green gram varieties in Kiboko and
Ithookwe in Lower Eastern Kenya. Stellamaris has published an article
in the International Journal of Plant Science and Soil Science under the
tittle Influence of Green gram (Vigna radiata L.) Varieties on Growth
and Yield Attributes in Dry Ecological Zones of Kenya. She is
currently working as a principal seed inspector at KEPHIS. Upon
completion of her studies, she wishes to apply to graduate school to
further her studies in Agronomy and progress towards a career as a
researcher.
Abstract
Low green gram yields in eastern Kenya is attributed to lack of
adequate knowledge of agronomic practices. Therefore, the current
study was established in Kiboko and Ithookwe to evaluate the
influence of intra row spacing, microbial inoculation and varieties on
growth and yield of green gram varieties. Five levels of plant spacing
(5 cm x 45 cm, 10 cm x 45 cm, 15 cm x 45 cm, 20 cm x 45 cm, 25 cm
x 45 cm), two inoculation treatments (inoculated with rhizobia and not
inoculated with rhizobia) and three green gram varieties (KS20, KAT
00308 and KAT 00309) were laid out in a randomized complete block
design with a factorial arrangement and replicated three times. Data
was collected on growth and yield parameters and analysed using
GenStat Version 15.1 and means separated using Fischer’s Protected
LSD test at p≤0.05. Plant height, shoot dry weight, number of effective
nodules, weight of nodules and the ground cover were significantly
influenced by the intra-row spacing in both sites but no significant
differences observed on the parameters due to rhizobial inoculation.
There were significant differences between the intra-row spacing
treatments in growth parameters. Inoculation significantly increased
the number of effective nodules in both sites but did not have a
significant influence on the yield. The varieties differed significantly in
the growth and yield parameters tested in both sites. From these
results, it is recommended that variety KAT00309 is the best variety in
both sites planted at an intra-row spacing of 20 cm by 45 cm with or
without inoculation.
Research Supervisors
Professor George N. Chemining’wa
Doctor Josiah M. Kinama
