Abstract
Food and nutrition insecurity remains a challenge in Kenya, and diversifying maize-based systems is key to resilience. This study evaluated the productivity and resource-use efficiency of maize–sweetpotato intercrops under varying spatial arrangements in Embu County, Kenya Planting for the first season was done in October 2023 and harvesting done in April 2024 and for the second season planting was done in May 2024 and harvested in October 2024. Farmer-managed trials were conducted at four mid-altitude sites Manyatta Sub County (Mbeti North Ward and Kirimari Ward) and in Runyenjes Sub County (Kagaari North Ward and Runyenjes Central Ward). Treatments included sole maize, sole sweetpotato (varieties Irene and KEMB10), and six intercrop configurations alternating 2 or 4 rows of maize with 2 or 4 rows of sweetpotato, testing both equal and unequal row proportions. Data on maize (plant height, cob traits grain yield and biomass) and sweetpotato (marketable, non-marketable roots and root yields) were analyzed using ANOVA in SAS (p < 0.05). Cropping efficiency was assessed using Land equivalent ratio (LER), land equivalent coefficient, system productivity index (SPI), and maize equivalent yield (MEY). Sole maize produced the highest biomass (3.1–5.0 t/ha). The intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rows recorded the highest LER (1.53–1.56), SPI (3.5–3.6), MEY (5689–5258kg/ha), and net income (US$1736 for Irene; US$1572 for KEMB10). Sole sweetpotato yielded the highest root yields (7.6 t/ha for Irene, 12.1 t/ha for KEMB10), while intercrops balanced root and grain yields. The 2:4 maize: sweetpotato intercrop with Irene offered the best balance of yield, efficiency, and profitability, making it a suitable option for farmers aiming to maximize returns on limited land. For resource-constrained farmers, the 2:2 arrangement provides a lower-cost yet economically viable alternative, supporting broader adoption of intercropping for food and income security.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Sole maize produced the highest biomass at 3.1–5.0 t/ha.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sole maize produced the highest biomass (3.1–5.0 t/ha).”
Claim · model-written summary
The 2 maize row to 4 sweetpotato row intercrop had the highest LER, 1.53–1.56.
- Treatment
- intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rowse0
- Interactor
- sweetpotato
_Flower.jpg?width=60)
Ipomoea batatase0other - Outcome
- LERe0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 1.53–1.56e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Flower.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“The intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rows recorded the highest LER (1.53–1.56), SPI (3.5–3.6), MEY (5689–5258kg/ha), and net income (US$1736 for Irene; US$1572 for KEMB10).”
Claim · model-written summary
The 2:4 intercrop had the highest SPI, 3.5–3.6.
- Treatment
- intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rowse0
- Interactor
- sweetpotatoIpomoea batatase0other
- Outcome
- SPIe0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 3.5–3.6e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rows recorded the highest LER (1.53–1.56), SPI (3.5–3.6), MEY (5689–5258kg/ha), and net income (US$1736 for Irene; US$1572 for KEMB10).”
Claim · model-written summary
The 2:4 intercrop had the highest MEY, 5689–5258kg/ha.
- Treatment
- intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rowse0
- Interactor
- sweetpotatoIpomoea batatase0other
- Outcome
- MEYe0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 5689–5258kg/hae0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rows recorded the highest LER (1.53–1.56), SPI (3.5–3.6), MEY (5689–5258kg/ha), and net income (US$1736 for Irene; US$1572 for KEMB10).”
Claim · model-written summary
The 2:4 intercrop with Irene achieved the highest net income, US$1736.
- Material
- Irenee0
- Treatment
- intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rowse0
- Outcome
- net incomee0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- US$1736e0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“The intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rows recorded the highest LER (1.53–1.56), SPI (3.5–3.6), MEY (5689–5258kg/ha), and net income (US$1736 for Irene; US$1572 for KEMB10).”
Claim · model-written summary
The 2:4 intercrop with KEMB10 achieved the highest net income, US$1572.
- Material
- KEMB10e0
- Treatment
- intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rowse0
- Outcome
- net incomee0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- US$1572e0
Not reportedTaxonComparator
Verbatim
e0“The intercrop of 2 maize rows with 4 sweetpotato rows recorded the highest LER (1.53–1.56), SPI (3.5–3.6), MEY (5689–5258kg/ha), and net income (US$1736 for Irene; US$1572 for KEMB10).”
Claim · model-written summary
Sole Irene sweetpotato had the highest root yield, 7.6 t/ha.
- Taxon
- sweetpotatoIpomoea batatase0
- Material
- Irenee0
- Treatment
- Sole sweetpotatoe0
- Outcome
- root yieldse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 7.6 t/hae0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sole sweetpotato yielded the highest root yields (7.6 t/ha for Irene, 12.1 t/ha for KEMB10), while intercrops balanced root and grain yields.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sole KEMB10 sweetpotato had the highest root yield, 12.1 t/ha.
- Taxon
- sweetpotatoIpomoea batatase0
- Material
- KEMB10e0
- Treatment
- Sole sweetpotatoe0
- Outcome
- root yieldse0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 12.1 t/hae0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sole sweetpotato yielded the highest root yields (7.6 t/ha for Irene, 12.1 t/ha for KEMB10), while intercrops balanced root and grain yields.”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercrops balanced root and grain yields.
Verbatim
e0“while intercrops balanced root and grain yields.”
t0“Maize-Sweetpotato”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend the 2:4 maize:sweetpotato intercrop with Irene to maximize returns on limited land because it best balances yield, efficiency and profitability.
- Material
- Irenee0
- Interactor
- sweetpotatoIpomoea batatase0other
- Outcome
- 2:4 maize: sweetpotato intercrop with Irenee0
- Qualifier
- maximize returns on limited lande0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The 2:4 maize: sweetpotato intercrop with Irene offered the best balance of yield, efficiency, and profitability, making it a suitable option for farmers aiming to maximize returns on limited land.”
Claim · model-written summary
For resource-constrained farmers the authors recommend the lower-cost, economically viable 2:2 arrangement.
Verbatim
e0“For resource-constrained farmers, the 2:2 arrangement provides a lower-cost yet economically viable alternative, supporting broader adoption of intercropping for food and income security.”
t0“Maize-Sweetpotato”
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