Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences

J. Anim. Plant Sci. [ISSN 2071 - 7024]

Volume 4 (2): 329 - 340. Published September 15, 2009.

Performance of pigeon pea genotypes intercropped with maize under humid tropical ultisol conditions

 

SUMMARY

Five improved pigeonpea genotypes from ICRISAT (ICPL 87, ICPL 85063, ICP 7120, ICPL 161, ICPL 87119) and one Nsukka Local genotype‟fiofio” were assessed in a mixture with two maize genotypes (hybrid and open pollinated maize genotype) at Nsukka, Nigeria, over two years.  The experiment was a factorial, laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD ) with three replications. The result showed that intercropping significantly (P<0.01) reduced the dry matter fractions of the leaf, stem and root  (g/plant) of pigeonpea and the grain yield (kg/ha) significantly (p<0.05) compared with the sole crop system. Hybrid maize depressed pigeonpea yield more compared to the open pollinated maize. The ICRISAT pigeonpea genotypes generally gave significantly (P<0.05) higher grain yield than the local genotype whether in the intercrop or sole crop system. Intercropping had less yield depressing effect on maize than on pigeonpea in respect of their dry matter fractions and grain yields. Intercrop grain yields (kg/ha) for maize were close to their sole crop yields. Land equivalent ratio values greater than one (³1.0) was obtained in all intercrop combinations implying greater land productivity of the intercropping system. Pigeonpea/maize mixtures gave significantly (p<0.01) higher total income per unit land area compared to sole pigeonpea systems The improved ICRISAT pigeonpea genotypes gave greater income in both mixtures and sole systems compared to  the local pigeonpea genotype and are recommended for adoption by farmers in maize additive series intercropping system at 1:1 pigeonpea to maize plant population ratio.

Key words
Genotypes, intercropping, performance, pigeonpea, maize.

FULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]

 

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ISSN 2071 - 7024

Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences

The Journal of Applied BioSciences