Chlorophyll Content Index and Yield Responses of Maize and Banana Plants under Calliandra calothyrsus, Sesbania sesban and Leucaena diversifolia Intercropping in Vihiga County, Kenya

High population has led to more demand for food. Subsequently, there is need to expand agricultural land. This has necessitated cutting down of trees. This has led to soil degradation. Nutrient depleted soils and poor cropping systems such as continuous cropping, have contributed to the declining yield, which is a major problem facing farmers in Western Kenya. Intercropping with agroforestry tree species can alleviate soil infertility problems and increase crop productivity through enhanced biological nitrogen fixation, growth and photosynthesis hence ensuring food security. However, intercropping with agroforestry trees may lead to competition for both above ground and below ground resources between crops and trees hence affect the physiology and yield of the component crops. Intercropping maize and bananas with agroforestry trees such as Calliandra calothyrsus, Sesbania sesban and Leucaena diversifolia have the potential to improve the physiology and productivity of both maize and bananas and as a result alleviate food insecurity. However, the influence of the agroforestry trees species on the physiology and yield of the maize and banana crops in an intercrop system is yet to be established. This study sought to investigate the influence of intercropping agroforestry tree species on maize and banana chlorophyll content index and yield. The field trials were set up at Maseno University farm in Vihiga County. Seeds of agroforestry trees were acquired from KEFRI – Muguga, planted in a seedbed and the seedlings raised in nurseries. Five months old Williams’ variety tissue banana seedlings were obtained from KALRO-Thika. Hybrid maize seeds, H513 were bought from Kenya seed company Kitale. Banana holes were dug 90cm x 90cm x 60cm deep and 20 Kg of cow dung manure + 20 Kg of top soil + 200g of NPK fertilizer added before planting the banana at a depth of 0.3m for proper anchorage. Maize were planted at 0.75 m inter row by 0.3 m spacing. Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replications and seven treatment levels (maize without fertilizer, maize banana Calliandra calothyrsus, maize banana Leucaena diversifolia, maize banana Sesbania sesban, maize-banana, banana monocrop and maize with fertilizer) were used. Fifteen maize and four banana plants in each treatment were sampled in a zigzag method and tagged for data collection. Data on maize and banana plant chlorophyll content and yield were determined. Chlorophyll content index parameters were measured using SPAD meter on the 3rd fully sun exposed leaf of the tagged plants. Data collected from the study was subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat statistical package. Treatment means were separated and compared using the Least Significant Difference (LSD). There were significant increases (P ≤ 0.05) in chlorophyll content and yield under maize + banana + sesbania sesban (MBS) treatment. Bunch weight and finger length were significantly higher under MBS. These agroforestry trees enhanced chlorophyll content index and yield of maize and bananas. Therefore, intercropping of maize, banana and Sesbania sesban is recommended as it increases the yields of both maize and banana through improved chlorophyll content index. This study allows us to understand the interaction mechanisms of the crops of maize and banana with the three agroforestry tree species to resources.