Evaluation Of Vegetable Cowpea (Vigna Unguicuiat L Wap) Varieties/maize (Zea Mays L.) Intercropping System

ABSTRACT

 At a field trial at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike research farm, the growth, yield and yield advantages of [our varieties of vegetable covea and maize were evaluated in sole and intercropping systems. The treatment were laid out in a randomized complete block design with nine treatment in each block replicated three times during the 2004 cropping season. The varieties were: akidi arii (spreadinq), akidi enu (climbing). 1186D:- 1228-14 (erect) and lT93k-915 (semi erect.) cowpea, and the maize variety was Bende White. Intercropping did not affect growth and yield of the component crops. The vine length was short in erect cowpea. Sole semi-erect cowpea had fewer pods per plant than the other varieties. The study showed that it is better to grow any of the cowpea varieties with maize on the basis of [ER, which in each case was greater than one. This suggests compatibility of the component crops in intercropping systems. The partial [ER of each component crop indicated that maize was the major contributor in the productivity because in each system it had high€r [ER than cowpea.