| dc.description.abstract | Generally, 13% of Kenya’s arable land mass (7.5 million ha) is acidic and prone to poor
phophorus (P) availability and soil acidity. This results in crop yield losses due to the direct
adverse effects Aluminium toxicity and P deficiency due to fixation of this element in the soil. The
objective of this study was to develop and select P efficient maize single crosses developed by
crossing as per North Carolina II mating design. Sixty maize genotypes, among them 34 single
crosses were screened under acidic soils in Bumala and Maseno in a randomised complete block
design. Sixty-seven percent of these single crosses were efficient, while 33% were inefficient. Two
percent were efficient and responsive, 14% were inefficient but responsive, and the 79% were
efficient but non-responsive. Generally, GY had a positive correlation with EH (0.45) and PH
(0.61), while PH and EH had a positive correlation (r=0.86) for the single crosses. The addition
of P had significant effect on the grain yield, plant height, ear height and flowering of the genotypes
at Bumala and Maseno. However the effect of 26kgP/ha was marginal at Maseno as compared to
Bumala. The sites and genotypes varied significantly with regard to soil analysis and grain yield
respectively, with the efficient and responsive genotypes selected for use in low input farming
systems. Also, some of the efficient but non-responsive lines can also be selected for low input
farming. | en_US |
