Abstract Push-pull is one of the sustainable intensification technologies for the control of stem-borers, striga weed and fall armyworm. Even though the effectiveness of push-pull in addressing these constraints has been evaluated under different agro-ecological conditions and on research stations, performance of the technology relative to other common maize-based cropping systems in farmers’ fields and the impact of the push-pull age is not yet understood. We hypothesized that, a) maize grain yield and aboveground biomass from push-pull system is higher than other common maize farming systems; b) duration of use of push-pull, and climatic conditions have an influence on its efficacy; and c) the presence of legumes in maize farms positively affects system performance. We compared maize grain yield, aboveground biomass and striga emergence of push-pull system with common maize farming systems: (1) maize monocrop (2) maize-bean intercrop, (3) maize-cowpea intercrop, (4) maize-green gram intercrop, and (5) maize-groundnut intercrop in 45 farms in three contrasting sites (Vihiga, Siaya and Bondo) in western Kenya. Push-pull increased maize grain yield by 2.33 and 1.77 Mg ha−1 in Vihiga in 2017 long and short rains, and 2.15 Mg ha−1 in Bondo in 2018 long rains, and aboveground biomass by between 2.84 Mg ha−1 in Vihiga in 2018 long rains and 8.94 Mg ha−1 in Bondo in 2018 long rains. Striga emergence declined in push-pull systems by up to 100 % and its performance varied with sites and seasons. Farms that had practiced push-pull for less than 2 years had a higher number of striga than farms which had practiced it for more than 2 years for the first season; the number decreased and was similar to that for farms which had practiced push-pull for above 2 years in the two subsequent seasons. Farms with legumes had similar maize grain and aboveground biomass as maize monocrop in all sites and seasons, and higher number of striga in Siaya in 2017 short rains and 2018 long rains, and Vihiga in 2018 long rains. These findings show that push-pull is similar or superior to other maize farming systems in terms of maize grain and biomass production; and that while its performance is influenced by agro-ecological conditions, its efficacy in controlling striga increases over time, and its productivity is not compromised over time on the same farm.

中文翻译：

---

在肯尼亚西部以玉米为基础的系统中，推拉技术提高了玉米产量和地上总生物量

摘要 推拉法是防治螟虫、独脚金和秋粘虫的可持续强化技术之一。尽管已经在不同的农业生态条件和研究站对推拉式解决这些限制的有效性进行了评估，但该技术相对于农民田间其他常见玉米种植系统的性能以及推拉式的影响拉年龄尚不了解。我们假设，a) 推拉系统的玉米籽粒产量和地上生物量高于其他常见的玉米种植系统；b) 推拉的使用时间和气候条件对其功效有影响；c) 玉米农场中豆类的存在对系统性能产生积极影响。我们比较了玉米粒产量，推拉系统的地上生物量和独脚金出现与普通玉米耕作系统：(1) 玉米单作 (2) 玉米-豆类间作，(3) 玉米-豇豆间作，(4) 玉米-绿豆间作，和 (5)在肯尼亚西部三个对比鲜明的地点（Vihiga、Siaya 和 Bondo）的 45 个农场中进行玉米和花生间作。推拉使 2017 年长雨和短雨 Vihiga 的玉米籽粒产量增加 2.33 和 1.77 Mg ha-1，2018 年长雨的 Bondo 增加 2.15 Mg ha-1，以及 Vihiga 的地上生物量增加 2.84 Mg ha-1 2018 年长降雨量和 2018 年长降雨量的邦多 8.94 Mg ha−1。在推拉系统中独脚金的出现率下降了 100%，其性能因地点和季节而异。在第一季实施推拉技术不到 2 年的农场，独脚金的数量高于实施了 2 年以上的农场；在随后的两个季节中，数量有所减少，并且与进行推拉训练超过 2 年的农场的数量相似。在所有地点和季节，豆类农场的玉米籽粒和地上生物量与单作玉米相似，2017 年短雨和 2018 年长雨的 Siaya 和 2018 年长雨的 Vihiga 独脚金数量更多。这些发现表明，推拉式在玉米谷物和生物质生产方面与其他玉米耕作系统相似或优越；并且虽然其性能受农业生态条件的影响，但其控制独脚金的功效会随着时间的推移而增加，并且同一农场的生产力不会随着时间的推移而受到影响。