Abstract

Owino Charles Onyango

Maize yield trend has been declining in recent past. Farmers in Trans Nzoia District rarely intercrop maize with other crops like beans. With good nutrition and favourable weather conditions, decreased maize row spacing can maximise maize production per unit land area by increasing plant population density, optimal light interception and nutrient uptake. The experiment was carried out during the long rain season (April - September) for two successive years starting 2006. There were significant treatment differences (at 5%) between row spacing, varieties and interaction between row spacing and varieties. The mean yield increased with decreasing row spacing. Decreased row spacing combined with improved maize varieties is a possibility of increasing maize yield in Trans Nzoia District.