Variability in Proximate Analysis of Twelve Selected Elite Pigeonpea Genotypes Across Varied Agro-Ecological Zones in Kenya

Abstract

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is a legume crop majorly grown in semi-arid tropics as a warm-season perennial that is depended on by more than a billion people mainly in Asia and Africa as their main source of protein. The study was carried out to assess variation in nutritional quality and determine influence of environmental factors on nutritional composition among 12 elite pigeonpea genotypes through proximate analysis based on AOAC official methods. The field experiment was conducted in four varied agro-ecological zones (Kabete, Kerio Valley, UoE and Kiboko) in randomized complete block design (RCBD).The genotypes and environment varied significantly (P≤ 0.05) for all the parameters measured except for lipids. The mean proximate composition results of the 12 pigeonpea genotype seed samples across the four environments were; moisture (9.597), lipids (1.948), ash (3.89), protein (21.049) and Carbohydrates (63.51) g/100g. Kabete and Kerio Valley scored the highest level of proteins (22.02 & 21.99 g/100 g) respectively while university of Eldoret recorded the least (19.4 g/100 g). The identified potential genotypes with high protein and ash content can be utilized in breeding for better nutritional quality to enhance nutritional and food security.

Keywords: Pigeonpea, malnutrition, food security, proximate analysis, agro-ecological zones