Effects of Cropping System and Cowpea Variety on Symbiotic Potential and Yields of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculataL. Walp) and Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucumL.) in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Mali

Zoumana Kouyaté,Inamoud Ibny Yattara,Marc Neyra,Tatiana Krasova-Wade

doi:10.1155/2012/761391

Abstract

Many cowpea varieties (Vigna unguiculataL. Walp) have been proposed by research in Mali. None of these varieties were investigated for their symbiotic potential in terms of root nodulation and mycorrhizal infection. An experiment was conducted at Cinzana Research Station, from 2007 to 2009 with an objective to identify a cowpea variety with high symbiotic potential which may improve millet/cowpea cropping global production. Randomized complete block (RCBD) design with a factorial combination of 3 cowpea varieties (IT89KD-374, CZ1-94-23-1, and CZ11-94-5C) and 2 cropping systems (millet/cowpea intercropping and cowpea-millet rotation) was used. On farm test was conducted to evaluate CZ11-94-5C and IT89KD-374 nodulation performance. Cowpea variety CZ11-94-5-C had the highest nodule number and nodule weight. Millet/cowpea alternate rows intercropping (1/1), only, had a significant influence on cowpea root infection rates by mycorrhizae, on the 45th day after emergence. IT89KD-374 gave the best cowpea grain yield (1540 kg ha−1) in sole crop. The highest millet grain yield (1650 kg ha−1) was obtained under CZ11-94-5C-millet rotation. Farmers' fields assessments results confirmed CZ11-94-5C performance on research station. The CZ11-94-5C cowpea variety needs to be more characterized.

Highlights

Walp) is the main legume food crop in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Mali [1]. It is one of the main pulses contributing to the economy of nitrogen in cropping systems with low input through the biological nitrogen fixation [2]
The 3 cropping systems consisted of the millet/cowpea intercropping in alternate rows (1 row millet/1 row cowpea), the millet/cowpea intercropping in interhills (2 hills mil/1 hill cowpea) and cowpeamillet rotation
These results were not supported by the finding of Kombiok et al [12] who reported that cropping systems have no effects on nodule number and nodule weight

Summary

Introduction

Walp) is the main legume food crop in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Mali [1]. It is one of the main pulses contributing to the economy of nitrogen in cropping systems with low input through the biological nitrogen fixation [2]. This symbiotic nitrogen fixation can reduce the rate of depletion of cultivated soils where legume-cereal rotation is practiced [3]. Walp), are important (50 to 300 kg N ha−1 yr−1) These values depend on the legume plants density, the cropping system, and the legume genotype [7].

Methods

Results

Conclusion