PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) VARIETIES INTERCROPPED INTO MAIZE (Zea mays L.) UNDER DIFFERENT PLANTING PATTERNS
PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) VARIETIES INTERCROPPED INTO MAIZE (Zea mays L.) UNDER DIFFERENT PLANTING PATTERNS
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-06
Authors
IBRAHIM, AMADU HADEJIA
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Field trials were conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) farm, Samaru,
Nigeria during 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons to study the performance of cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata L. Walp) varieties intercropped into maize (Zea mays L) under different
planting patterns. The treatments tested consisted of factorial combinations of six improved
cowpea varieties, namely, SAMPEA-2, SAMPEA-4, SAMPEA-5, IAR-1035, IAR-1074,
and IT90K-277-2 which were intercropped with maize variety, TZPBSR in three different
planting patterns, namely, 1row maize: 1row cowpea in mixed-rows, 1row maize: 1row
cowpea alternate rows and 1row maize: 4 rows cowpea: 1 row maize in alternate rows. The
treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design in a split plot arrangement
with three replications. The planting pattern was assigned to the main plot while the variety
was assigned to the sub-plot. The result indicated that most of the growth and yield
parameters of maize were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by cowpea varieties. There
were higher grain and pod yields from variety SAMPEA-2 while variety IAR-1035
produced the lowest pod yield. Planting pattern affected both growth and yield components
of cowpea significantly (P > 0.05) in both years, with the 1M: 4C: 1M alternate planting
pattern having higher values compared with either 1M: 1C alternate or 1M: 1C mixed-row
planting pattern. In maize, the 1M: 1C mixed-row planting pattern produced significantly
(P > 0.05) higher maize grain yield than the 1M: 4C:1M alternate and 1M: 1C alternate
planting patterns by averages of 139.8 and 21.9% respectively. Varieties x planting pattern
interactions were generally not significant (P > 0.05) for all the parameters. The
productivity of maize intercropped with cowpea will be enhanced by adopting the IM: IC
alternate or 1M: 1C mixed-row planting pattern, if maize is the main crop. However, if
ones primary interest is in cowpea grain yield one can recommend that cowpea variety
SAMPEA-2 or IAR-1074 under the 1M: 4C:1M alternate planting pattern be adopted since
these two varieties performed well in intercropping with maize. The study showed
considerable variations among cowpea varieties in their performance in the maize intercrop.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN AGRONOMY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA NIGERIA
JUNE 2011
Keywords
PERFORMANCE,, COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp,, VARIETIES INTERCROPPED,, MAIZE (Zea mays L.) UNDER,, DIFFERENT PLANTING PATTERNS.