EFFECTS OF COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) VARIETIES AND SOWING DATES ON PERFORMANCE OF COWPEA IN SESAME AND COWPEA INTERCROPPED IN SUDAN SAVANNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Farmers in different parts of the world intercropped different crops according to their preferences on social and biological needs. The introduction of legumes intercropped with non-legumes has drawn considerable attention because of its ability to improve cash returns by increasing land use efficiency, among others. However, yields are very low due to lack of improved varieties and poor management practices such as time of introducing the companion crop into the system. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of cowpea variety and cowpea sowing date for growth and yield of cowpea intercropped with Sesame in Sudan Savanna Nigeria. Field studies were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons using split plot design with three replications and two treatments. Treatments consisted of three cowpea varieties (UAM-09-1046-6-1, IT99K-573-1-1 and Borno Brown) and three sowing dates; simultaneous sowing of cowpea with sesame, two weeks after sowing sesame and three weeks after sowing sesame). Data were collected on number of leaves per plant, plant height (cm), number of pods per plant, 100 grain weight and grain yield/ha. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences among treatment means. The means were compared using Least Significant Differences (LSD) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of probability. Cowpea variety has significant influence on grain yield, pod yield and number of leaves per plant, where UAM-09-1046-6-1recorded superior grain yield, and number of pods per plant, respectively, although Borno Brown had better number of leaves per plant and plant height. Cowpea variety interacted positively with sowing date. Cowpea grain yield/ha across years increases when IT99K-573-1-1 was sown simultaneously with sesame while Borno Brown sown three weeks after sesame produced the least grain yield. For the sowing date, simultaneous sowing of cowpea with sesame(0 WASS) had better plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant height, whereas the 2 and 3 WASS plants had the lowest growth. Grain yields of cowpea intercrop are best realized by simultaneous sowing of sesame in association with IT99K-573-1-1variety in the Sudan savannah.