Effect of modified spacing arrangements, fertilizer use and legume intercrop on prevalence of cassava brown streak disease in Western Kenya

Abstract

Cassava is an important food security crop in Western and Coastal counties of Kenya. As a food security crop, it is continuously cultivated with minimal inputs. Its production is constrained by factors like declining soil fertility, poor agronomic practices, pests and diseases. Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is a viral infection attacking the cassava crop causing yield losses of up to 100%. The current study was intended to determine the effect of planting technologies on the prevalence of CBSD in two agro-ecological zones of Western Kenya: lower midland (LM1) and upper midland (UM1). Various spacing arrangements, four fertilizer regimes, legume intercrop and improved cassava cultivars were tested in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with each site as a replicate. Data was collected on pathogen population and disease incidences and severity, and cassava and legumes yields. Results showed no effect of modified spacing and legume intercrop on CBSD incidence. However, incidences varied by cassava cultivar (9 to 59%) and fertilizer application (3 to 41%). Low CBSD incidences (3 to 16%) were observed over time in management strategies involving fertilizer NPK 17:17:17 suggesting that vigour enhancement may have contributed to low CBSD incidences. Low incidence of CBSD on improved cultivars indicates that CBSD can be mitigated through crop improvement technologies such as breeding for resistance to diseases. Intercropping cassava with beans and modification of spacing did not demonstrate an effect on CBSD incidence. However, 2 m× 0.5 m spacing arrangement can compensate for rising land pressure in Western Kenya and areas facing similar problem.

Mainstreaming Smart Agroforestry for Social Forestry Implementation to Support Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia: A Review

“…Meanwhile, it was reported in [147] that pest and disease attacks could be reduced by 73% with mixed-crop planting. A more recent study found that an intercropping system with legumes in western Kenya suppressed brown line disease in cassava [148]. The intensity of pest damage in AF systems is lower than in monoculture agriculture [149], because AF planting patterns affect pests and diseases not only based on the plant species, but also other factors, including pest types, pest preferences, and microclimate [150,151].…”

Gender disparity in cassava farmers access to agricultural productive resources in Rongo Sub County, Migori County, Kenya

“…Cultural differences in crops grown by men and women have been sufficiently thought of (Anderson et al, 2021;Ankrah et al, 2020;Michels et al, 2019;Pawlak and Kołodziejczak, 2020;Akter et al, 2017). Cassava (Manihot esculentum Crantz) is an important food security crop that is cultivated with minimal inputs in Western and Coastal counties of Kenya (Ememwa et al, 2017), and a thorough comprehension of the processes associated with its production among smallholder women and men farmers, especially in Rongo Sub County in Migori County of Kenya. This is completely fitting especially Kenya when the government industriously strives to realisation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 and Vision 2030 that focus on gender equality.…”