Component varietal effect on the growth and yield of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) and maize (Zea mays L.) in vegetable cowpea/maize intercropping system

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike research farm for two cropping seasons (2006 and 2007) to evaluate the effect of component varieties on growth and yield of vegetable cowpea and maize in vegetable cowpea/maize intercropping system. Two improved varieties, each of vegetable cowpea (IT92KD-263-4-1 and IT99K-1122) and maize (OBA Super 2 and OBA 98) were used. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Highest leaf area index (2.3) and highest total above ground dry matter were attributed to OBA 98 +IT92K-263-4-1 mixture in 2006 and 2007. The 100-seed weight was heaviest when either of the maize cultivars was intercropped with IT92KD-263-4-1. Maize cultivar, OBA 98 intercropped with IT92KD-263-4-1 had highest land equivalent ratio (LER) (1.91) and gross monetary returns (5,300,864.00) in 2006. It was therefore, recommended that the resource poor rural farmers of the study area should intercrop OBA 98 and IT92KD-263-4-1 for higher yield and productivity of the vegetable cowpea and maize.