International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications

ISSN: 2456-9992

Effects Of Different Legumes On The Growth And

Grain Yield Of Amaranth In Kitui County, Kenya
James Gitonga, Ellis Njoka, David Mushimiyimana

School of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture,

Kenya Methodist University, P.O Box 267 – 60200 Meru, Kenya
jameskiambi@yahoo.com

School of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture,

Kenya Methodist University, P.O Box 267 – 60200 Meru, Kenya
njokambaka@gmail.com

School of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture,

Kenya Methodist University, P.O Box 267 – 60200 Meru, Kenya
david.mushimiyimana@kemu.ac.ke

Abstract: Amaranth is an important crop owing to its highly nutritious grains and leaves. The grains are rich in proteins and leaves have
high calcium and vitamins levels. Amaranth flour is used to fortify other flours due to its high digestible proteins. Some medicinal
properties and industrial use have also been associated with amaranth grains and leaves. Common beans, green grams and cowpeas are
important sources of plant proteins. This makes them valuable and cheap substitute for meat and other animal proteins. In this study,
common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) KB9, green gram (Vigna radiata) N-26 and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) M66 were intercropped with
amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus), KAM 01 to establish and compare their effects on the growth and grain yields of amaranth. Pure
stands of the three legumes and the amaranth were also established for comparison purposes. The study was carried out in March- May 2017
rainy season. Treatment combinations were tested in a randomized complete block design (RCBD); with four replicates. Analysis of
variance was carried out and treatment means were differentiated at 95% confidence level (P<0.05).Post-hoc tests were carried out using
Fishers‟ Least Significant Difference (LSD). This study found that intercropping amaranth with common beans, green grams and cowpeas
had a significant effect (P<0.05) on grain yields and above ground biomass. Grain yields were highest (1,741 kg/ha) when amaranth was
intercropped with green grams and least (1,088 kg/ha) in the amaranth-common beans intercrop. Green grams intercrop gave the highest
(4,159 kgs/ha) above ground biomass and common beans intercrop giving the least (2,241 kgs/ha). Common bean intercrop had the highest
(0.37) harvest index followed by green gram intercrop (0.34) with cowpeas intercrop giving a harvest index of 0.29. It was concluded that
legume intercropping with amaranth was better than sole cropping and that green gram was the most appropriate legume for intercropping
with amaranth in Kitui central sub county. It was therefore recommended for use by farmers.

Keywords: Grain amaranth, harvest index, intercropping, legumes.

I. INTRODUCTION (2012) reported amaranth as an important food for people

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is an herbaceous annual
belonging to the family Amaranthaceae with green or red
leaves and branched flower stalks (heads) bearing small
seeds, variable in colour from cream to gold and pink to
shiny black. It is a C4 plant with an upright growth habit that
grows optimally under warm conditions (day temperatures
above 25°C and night temperatures not lower than 15°C,
bright light and adequate availability of plant nutrients.
According to Ouma (2004), there are about 60 species of
Amaranthus, but only a limited number are of the cultivated
types, while most are considered weedy species and hence
rarely preserved. Amaranth is an important crop owing to its
highly nutritious grains and leaves. The have high levels of
essential micronutrients like carotene, vitamin C, iron and
calcium (Pospisil, Varga & Svecnjack, 2006). The leaves are
rich in calcium, iron and vitamins A, B and C, but fairly low
in carbohydrates (Ouma, 2004). It is also rich in lysine and
essential amino acid that is lacking in other diets based on
cereals and tubers. The leaves are cooked alone or combined
with other local vegetables such as spider plant, African
nightshade and pumpkins. Amaranth grains can be ground
into flour, popped like popcorn or cooked into porridge (Lara
& Ruales, 2002). Some medicinal properties and industrial
use have also been associated with amaranth grains and
leaves. Kunyanga, Imungi, Okoth, Biesalski, and Vadivel
living with HIV/AIDs and diabetics in most sub-Saharan
Africa. Amaranth has also been said to lower cholesterol
levels owing to its high content of squalene (He, Cai, Sun &
Corke, 2003). Squalene is also an important ingredient of
skin cosmetics due to its photo protective properties and is
used as a lubricant in high technology applications, such as
computer disks, because of its thermostability (He et al.,
2003). Squalene is usually extracted from shark livers.
Intercropping amaranth with other crops has been done with
varying results in grain yields, leaf yield and pest control.
For example Ng‟ang‟a , Ohiokpehai, Muasya and Omami
(2011) showed that intercropping amaranth and soya beans
(Glycine max) significantly increased amaranth grain yield
compared to mono-cropping. An intercrop study of amaranth
and cowpea carried out by Myers (1996) also showed a
higher land equivalent ratio (better yield response) than for
other intercropping arrangements. Amaranth has also been
found to have no allellopathic effects in an intercropping
system (Myers, 1996).The main advantage of intercropping
is the more efficient utilization of the available resources and
the increased productivity compared with each sole crop of
the mixture. Intercropped legumes fix most of their nitrogen
from the atmosphere and do not compete with cereals for
nitrogen resources (Amanullah et al., 2016). Although a
number of studies have been done to establish the potential

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 International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications
ISSN: 2456-9992

of intercropping amaranth with other crops, very little has
been done to compare the effects of intercropping common
bean, green gram and cowpeas on the growth and grain yield
of amaranth . This study therefore sought to establish and
compare the effects of intercropping these three legumes on
the growth and grain yields of amaranth (KAM 01) in Kitui
central sub county in Kitui County, Kenya.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Plot establishment
The study was carried out within the 2017 long rains (March
– May, 2017) at Kitui Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in
Kitui central sub county. The plot was tractor- ploughed and
harrowed to achieve a fine tilth ideal for crop growth. Seven
plots representing three treatment combinations and four
pure stands was mapped out per block and replicated four
times. A uniform basal application of TSP fertilizer (46%) at
a rate of 23kg P2O5 per Ha was applied on the rows of
amaranth before planting. Each plot measured 4.5m x 3.0m.
Farm yard manure was also applied uniformly at a rate of 4
tons per Ha before ploughing. Amaranth („KAM 01‟) was
sown by drilling in rows spaced 90 cm apart. Fourteen (14)
days after emergence, the plants were thinned out to achieve
a spacing of 90cm x 30cm. The total amaranth plants per plot
was therefore fifty. Rainfall and temperature data during the
growing season were collected from Kitui Meteorological
weather station and Kitui Agricultural Training Centre
station. A total of 493.1mm of rainfall was received in
17days during the season. Temperatures ranged between
220C to 300C.
2.2 Treatment
Treatment combinations of the three legumes L1 - L3
(Common beans L1, Green grams L2 and Cowpeas L3); and
one amaranth variety; V (KAM 01) plus pure stands of each
crop were applied in the seven plots within the block. The
plots had grain amaranth as the main crop. Common beans
(KB1 variety), green grams (N26 Variety) and cowpeas
(M66 variety) were planted in single rows between amaranth
rows at spacing of 15cm, 20cm and 20cm intra plants,
respectively. The spacing in sole crops was 90cm x 30cm for
amaranth variety, 30cm x 15cm for common bean, 45cm x
20cm for green gram and 60cm x 20cm for cowpeas. These
were replicated four times. Appropriate pesticides were used
to control pests. Plots were kept weed-free by shallow
weeding.
2.3 Data Collection
During data collection, one outer row of grain amaranth at
each end of all the plots was discarded as border. Thus only
3 middle rows of grain amaranth per plot were harvested.
Harvesting of amaranth was done by cutting off the heads
with a sharp knife. The heads were then threshed, winnowed
and weight of grains per plot determined using a digital
weighing scale. The whole stalks of the harvested amaranth
were then cut from the base (above the ground), dried under
shade for 30 days and their weights determined per plot.
The parameters measured were:
i. Amaranth grain yield (g) – Average grain yield
from 30 plants per plot were measured after
threshing, winnowing and sun dried to a constant
moisture level of 13.5%
ii. Amaranth above ground biomass (g) - Amaranth
shoots were cut above the ground after harvesting,
dried under shade for 30 days and weight measured.
2.4 Data Analysis
Data collected was summarized in an excel package and
exported for analysis using SPSS Version 22.0 (statistical
package for social sciences). Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
was carried out for the three intercropping systems and for
the amaranth pure stand. Treatment means were
differentiated at 0.05 level of significance (P<0.05). Post-hoc
test was done using Fishers‟ Least Significant Difference
(LSD). Harvest Index was determined as a ratio of grain
yield per plot to above ground biomass.
Harvest index (HI) =
This was in line with Arya, Arya, Arya and Kumar (2015)
who expressed Harvest index as a relationship of economic
yield (yield of main product) and total biological yield (yield
of maim product + by products). Higher harvest index means
superior plant type.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Grain yields per Plot

Table 1: Treatment Combinations

AMARANTH VARIETY( V)
LEGUME INTERCROP (L)
Amaranth (V)
Common bean (L1) VL1
Green grams (L2) VL2
Cowpeas (L3) VL3

Treatments and Treatment Combinations

VL1, VL2, VL3, V, L1, L2, L3.

Legend
Legume 1 (Common bean)- L1
Legume 2 (Green grams) – L2 Figure 1: Effects of intercropping on yields of amaranth per
Legume 3 (Cowpeas) – L3 plot
Amaranth variety –V

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 International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications
ISSN: 2456-9992

From figure1, amaranth grain yields per plot were highest in
green gram intercrop followed by cowpea intercrop; while
common bean intercrop had the least grain yields
Table 1: ANOVA table for the effects of intercropping on
amaranth grain yield
Eaglesham et al., 1981 as cited by Matusso et al., 2012). This
agrees with the findings of Walley et al., (1996) as cited by
Fynn and Idowa (2015) which showed that most of the
nitrogen fixed by legumes goes directly into the plant, but
some nitrogen is “leaked” or “transferred” into the soil for
neighboring non-legume plants.

Weight of grains amaranth (g) 3.2 Above Ground Biomass

Type III Sum
Source df Mean Square F Sig.
of Squares
Blocks 177447.188 3 59149.063 9.771 .003
Intercropping 31.54
572958.687 3 190986.229 .000
systems 9
Error 54482.063 9 6053.563
Total 804887.937 15
a. R Squared = .932 (Adjusted R Squared = .887)

From the ANOVA table 1, there were significant differences

(P<0.05) in amaranth grain yields among the three
intercropping systems. Post-hoc analysis Table 2 shows that
amaranth yields per plot in the green gram intercrop,
cowpeas intercrop and pure stand amaranth were
significantly higher than that of common bean intercrop.
There was also significant difference in amaranth yields
between green gram intercrop and amaranth pure stand.
Yields were higher in green intercrop than in amaranth pure
stand. However, yields in cowpeas intercrop and pure stand Figure 2: Effects of intercropping on above ground biomass
amaranth had no significant differences.
From figure 2, amaranth above ground biomass was highest
Table 2: LSD table for the effects of intercropping on in the green gram intercrop followed by cowpea intercrop;
amaranth yield per plot while common beans intercrop had the least biomass.
amaranth amaranth amaranth amaranth
common green grams cowpeas pure stand
Table 3: ANOVA table for the effects of intercropping on
beans intercrop intercrop above ground biomass
intercrop
amaranth -529.00* -317.50* -238.25* Above ground biomass
common Type III Sum
beans Source df Mean Square F Sig.
of Squares
intercrop 13.53
amaranth 211.50 290.75* Blocks 2893515.250 3 964505.083 .001
1
green grams Intercropping 29.57
intercrop 6324739.250 3 2108246.417 .000
systems 7
amaranth 79.25 Error 641529.250 9 71281.028
cowpeas Total 9859783.750 15
intercrop
a. R Squared = .935 (Adjusted R Squared = .892)
amaranth
pure stand
*. The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level The ANOVA found that there were significant differences
(P<0.05) on the above ground biomass among the various
Higher amaranth yields in green grams and cowpea intercropping systems. From the post-hoc analysis Table 4,
intercrops are as a result of more nitrogen available to the above ground biomass for amaranth was significantly
amaranth due to higher biological nitrogen fixation by green higher in the green grams and cowpeas intercrops compared
gram and cowpeas. The significantly lower amaranth yields to common bean intercrop. There was no significant
in common bean intercrop on the other hand is as a result of difference between the above ground biomass for the green
low nitrogen available to amaranth due to poor biological grams and cowpeas intercrops. The same was true for the
nitrogen fixation by beans. This is because common bean is a pure stand amaranth which had no significant difference
poor fixer of nitrogen (Fynn & Idowa, 2015). These results compared to both green grams and cowpeas intercrops.
are also in conformity with findings of Senaratine et al.,
(1995) and also Ng‟ang‟a et al., (2011). This implies that
green grams and cowpeas were able to meet most of their
nitrogen needs through biological N fixation thus leaving the
available soil nitrogen for use by amaranth. Amaranth was
therefore able to grow with higher vigor and develop larger
heads which translated to higher grain yields. The
significantly higher amaranth yields in green grams and
cowpeas intercrop were also attributed to „direct N transfer‟
from green grams and cowpeas to amaranth (Stern, 1993 &

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 International Journal of Advanced Research and Publications
ISSN: 2456-9992

Table 4: LSD table for the effects of intercropping on above intercrop performed better followed by cowpeas intercrop
ground biomass while common bean intercrop had the least grain yields. The
study also found out that the above ground biomass was least
amaranth when amaranth was intercropped with common beans; and
amaranth amaranth
common amaranth highest when amaranth was intercropped with green grams.
green grams cowpeas
beans pure stand
intercrop intercrop Based on the findings of this study it is recommended that
intercrop
amaranth farmers in Kitui central sub county be encouraged to
common
-1761.25* -1083.50* -887.75* intercrop amaranth with green grams to increase amaranth
beans grain yield and to improve the general soil fertility.
intercrop
amaranth
green grams 677.75 873.50* ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
intercrop I would like to appreciate the Principal, Kitui Agricultural
amaranth
cowpeas 195.75
training Centre for allowing me to use the institution‟s farm
intercrop to conduct this research.
amaranth
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ISSN: 2456-9992

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsfa.1 James Gitonga received a B.Sc.

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