Identification of appropriate production packages for increased African nightshade production in Kisii County, Kenya

This study investigated the effects of intercropping arrangements and fertiliser combinations on growth and yields of African nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.). The study was carried out at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Kisii County. The experiment were laid out in a complete randomized block design with a split plot arrangement replicated three times. The main plots were intercropping arrangements (intercrop ratios of 0:16, 1:14, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4). The sub plots were fertilizer combinations of Farm yard manure (FYM), urea and triple super phosphate (TSP) comprising of; FYM (60 kg N ha-1+ 36 kg P ha-1), urea (60 kg N ha-1) + TSP (40 kg P ha-1) , urea (30 kg N ha-1) + TSP (20 kg P ha-1) + FYM (30 kg N ha-1 + 18 kg P ha-1), urea (20 kg N ha-1)+ TSP (10 kg P ha-1) + FYM (40 kg N ha-1+ 27 kg P ha-1), urea (40 kg N ha-1) + TSP (30 kg P ha-1) + FYM (20 kg N ha-1+ 9 kg P ha-1). Data on total fresh leaf yield of African nightshade (ANS) was measured. There was a significant (P=0.05) interaction effect between intercropping arrangements and fertiliser combinations in fresh leaf yield. The sole ANS supplied with Urea (60kg N ha-1) + TSP (40kg P ha-1) and urea (40kg N ha-1) + TSP (30kg P ha-1) + FYM (20kg N ha-1+ 9 kg P ha-1) resulted in the highest fresh leaf yield (35.1 t ha-1and 32.5 tons ha-1 respectively) followed by an intercrop ratio of 1:14 (ANS with spider plants along the borders) supplied with urea (60kg N ha-1) + TSP (40Kg P ha-1) and urea (40 kg N ha-1) + TSP (30kg P ha-1) + FYM (20kg N ha-1+ 9 kg P ha-1) that resulted in 29.3 tons ha-1 and 27.3 t ha-1 respectively. An intercrop ratio of 1:2 supplied with urea (20kg N ha-1)+ TSP (10kg P ha-1) + FYM (40kg N ha-1+ 27kg P ha-1) and FYM (60kg N ha-1+ 36 kg P ha-1) resulted in the lowest fresh leaf yield (10.1 tons ha-1 and 8.9 tons ha-1 respectively) which was not significantly different from an intercrop ratio of 1:4 supplied with FYM (60kg N ha-1+ 36 kg P ha-1) (9.2 t ha-1).