Pod and grain yields from intercropping maize and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. in Nigeria

Abstract

SUMMARYField experiments were conducted at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, during two cropping seasons, with two cultivars of climbing cow peas (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subspecies sesquipedalis) cv. FARV-13 and TVU-1209. The work investigated their yields when intercropped with maize, which served as live support.The results showed that there were varietal differences in the cow-pea response to method of planting. Under the intercropped systems, highest dry-matter yield was obtained when TVU-1209 was planted on the same hill with maize while similar yields were obtained with FARV-13 planted in alternate hills with maize. TVU-1209 did not increase maize lodging except when planted in alternate hills with maize, but FARV-13 significantly increased maize lodging under all planting methods. Consequently, FARV-13 reduced maize yields more than TVU-1209.Neither pod length nor pod weight was affected by the planting. Highest yields from both cow pea and maize combined were realized from TVU-1209 planted between rows of maize. The yield of FARV-13 cow pea intercropped with maize did not show any advantage due to intercropping over sole crop of each.