Abstract:
Water stress is a major constraint to maize production in semi-arid Kenya. A field study was
conducted at two sites in semi-arid Kenya to evaluate a new commercial product containing a
mixture of Trichoderma harzianum Rifaistrains (TH-S) on enhancement of maize yield under
drought conditions. Seed of an early maturing maize composite KDV1 was dressed with T.
harzianum strains and planted under controlled irrigation conditions. A commercial strain of T.
harzianum referred as EzySeed was used for comparison as the industrial standard. The
EzySeed treatment had signficant higher numberof plants at harvest followed by the
T.harzianum strains (TH-S) treatment. EzySeed out performed both TH-S and control on yield at
the two test sites. The untreated control had the least number of plants. Maize treated with
T.harzianum strains and EzySeed had enhanced yield and root growth parameters in
comparison to control indicating that an opportunity exists for further development of T.
harzianum strains for management of drought stress on maize in semi-arid regions. | 