Soybean-maize intercropping on yield and system productivity in Makurdi, Central Nigeria
Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Crop Science - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 4
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted from July to November, during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons at the Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, to evaluate soybean-maize intercropping on yield and system productivity. Sole soybean, sole maize and the intercrop of soybean and maize constituted the treatments, which were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results of study showed that intercropping soybean with maize significantly (P≤0.05) reduced soybean yield by 43.8 % and 55.6 % respectively, in 2011 and 2012. However, maize yield was not significantly (P≤0.05) affected when intercropped with soybean. Total intercrop yield was greater than the sole crop yields. Intercropping soybean and maize gave land equivalent ratio (LER) values of 1.40 and 1.29 respectively, in years 2011 and 2012, indicating that higher productivity per unit area was achieved by growing the two crops together than by growing them separately. With these LER values, 28.6 % and 22.5% of lands were saved respectively, in 2011 and 2012, which could be used for other agricultural purposes. In addition, land equivalent coefficient values exceeded 0.25, indicating yield advantage of the intercropping system. Competitive pressure of component crops was low, indicating that both crops are complementary and suitable in mixture.
Authors and Affiliations
M. O. Ijoyah*| Department of Crop Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria., A. O. Ogar| Department of Crop Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria., G. O. S. Ojo| Department of Crop Production, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP1008
- DOI -
- Views 507
- Downloads 25
The effect of zinc on yield and yield components of sunflower (Helianthus.annuus L. )under drought stress
In the modern era Drought Stress is a major factor limiting the growth of sunflower crops in arid and semiarid regions of the world. To this end, a study to evaluate the effects of Stress at different growth stages in a...
Interrelationships between seed yield and related traits in bread wheat genotypes in non-saline and saline environments
Study of the interrelationships between yield and its components will improve the efficiency of breeding programs especially under saline conditions through appropriate selection criteria. The present research factor ana...
The effect of bio-fertilizer (Phosphate Barvar2) on the yield and yield components of bread wheat and durum in Ahvaz region
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of phosphorus biological fertilizers (Barvar2) and triple super phosphate fertilizer amounts on the yield and yield components of bread wheat and durum, a split-split plot experimen...
Peg strength of eight peanut cultivars grown in Mediterranean conditions
Peg strength is one of the most important agronomic properties in peanut crop to avoid harvest losses and mechanical production and harvesting. The objective of this study was to compare peg strength for selection th...
Effect of pulse irrigation scheduling with hybrid station controller on fruit yield and quality of nagpur mandarin (citrus reticulate blanco)
The hybrid station controller based automatic pulse irrigation scheduling field experiment was conducted on 10-12 years old bearing Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) at National Research Center for Citrus, Nagpu...