MOHAMMED I. B., OLUFAJO O. O., SINGH B. B., OLUWASEMIRE K. O., CHIEZEY U. F
Abstract
Sorghum/cowpea intercropping is a major cropping system in the Sudan savanna zone of Nigeria. Six cowpea genotypes
(Danila, IT95K-222-14, IT90K-277-2, IT95K-1091-3, IT96D-666 and IT96D-759) and four row arrangements (1:1, 1:2,
2:2 and 2:4 sorghum to cowpea rows) were used in a field experiment conducted at Minjibir near Kano, Nigeria over a two-
year period to investigate the effect of cowpea genotype and row arrangement on the productivity of this intercrop. Results
indicated that grain yield and yield parameters of intercropped sorghum were not affected by cowpea genotype and row
arrangement. However, genotype had significant effect on cowpea grain yield and yield components. Intercropped cowpea
grain yield varied from 486 to 886 kg ha-1. Cowpea grain yield and its components were highest at 2:4 row arrangement
while lowest values were recorded at 1:1 arrangement where intercrop competition was most intense. Significantly higher
partial land equivalent ratio was recorded by IT90K-277-2 and IT95K-222-14 compared with the other genotypes. €e
highest mean intercrop yield advantage of 26% was recorded using IT95K-222-14. Sorghum in combination with either
IT90K-277-2 or IT95K-222-14 gave the highest gross monetary return, which was maximized when, 2S:4C row arrangement
was used.
Key words:
intercropping, sorghum, cowpea genotypes, grain yield, land equivalent ratio, monetary returns