Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp and chilli pepper Capsicum frutescens (L.) intercropping as affected by planting pattern and insect pest management in the rain forest area of Nigeria

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Yaba College of Technology Instructional and Research Farm during 2019/2020 wet and dry seasons to investigate the performance of cowpea and chilli pepper intercropping for the management of insect pests of cowpea. The experiment was arranged in alternate intercropping (chilli pepper and cowpea), strip cropping (chilli pepper and cowpea), border cropping (chilli pepper around cowpea) and sole cropping in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times with twelve plots of sixty ridges. Data were collected on growth parameters of cowpea at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after planting, pest population, assessment of thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) and legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata), assessment of both nymphs and adult of legume pod borer and pod sucking bugs (Clavigralla tormentosicollis), pod damage, grain yield and yield loss. Alternate intercropping was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) superior to another cropping system concerning grain yield (0.12±0.01), reduction in pest infestation (3.56±0.11) and yield loss (322.12±5.43) when compared to sole cropping. Intercropping cowpea and chilli pepper can therefore be used to reduce the attack of insect pests on cowpea.