Pigeon pea: A companion crop for boosting maize growth and striga control in push-pull farming systems in Western Kenya

Crop diversification is one of the strategies for sustainable intensification that hold promise for reducing poverty and ending hunger in communities that derive livelihood from farming. Intensification of smallholder systems require identification of companion crops that are amenable to intercropping within existing crop and farming systems, add economic/marketable value, are a source of food, and provide ecosystem services not currently provided in existing crop or farming systems. Push-pull is a companion cropping system that involves intercropping cereal crops with forage legumes in the (e.g. Desmodium), and planting a forage grass (e.g. Brachiaria) around this intercrop to control stem borer, suppress witch weed (striga) in maize-based systems. This study evaluated the performance of push-pull system when further intensified with Cajanas cajan (pigeon pea). Four treatments were set up on farmers’ plots in Kisumu, Siaya and Vihiga counties during the long and short rain seasons in 2021, 2022 and 2023: (1) conventional push-pull, (2) push-pull with (pigeon pea), (3) maize and pigeon pea, and (4) maize mono-crop. Crop growth and striga weed density were monitored in 20×10 m plots demarcated in each treatment during the growing season. Data on maize growth, number and vigour of striga weed were recorded on all plants within sub-plots measuring 2x2 m for four seasons. Results show that integration with pigeon pea further suppresses striga weed and does not affect growth and yield of maize. Pigeon pea could be a potential alternative crop for weed management in smallholder farming systems, where it can serve as a source of firewood and fodder.