Abstract
The economics of using mixtures of a vegetable cowpea, Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis L., known locally as ‘Akidi’ (A) in Eastern Nigeria, melon (M) and sweet potato (S) Ipomea batatas for weed management in maize were evaluated between 2007 and 2009 in Taraba State, College of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm, Jalingo, Treatments include 20,000(1), 30,000(2) and 40,000(3) stands/ha of AM (AM1, AM2, AM3), AS (AS1, AS2, AS3), MS (MS1, MS2, MS3) and AMS (AMS1, AMS2, AMS3). Weeded (3+6 WAP) (C1) and unweeded (C2) checks served as control replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Partial budget analysis was used to obtain the level of profitability. The cost of production in all the mixtures having sweet potato was slightly higher (₦61,740 .00-₦67,340.00) than the AM treated plots (₦51,460.00-₦52,880.00) in the three year production. The gross benefit of ₦205,490.00, ₦199,920.00, ₦164,940.00 and ₦130,270.00 was realized respectively from MS, AS, AMS and AM treated plots compared with ₦154,980 in the hand weeded plots. Over the three years, the net benefit was in the order MS> AS> AMS > C1>AM , which resulted in 24.33, 23.22, 18.1, 17.57 and 13.67 times net profit when compared to the unweeded, respectively. Key words: Profitability, biological weed management, maize, cover crop mixtures.
Highlights
The decision to use non-chemical weed management options including cover crops, either as sole or mixed by farmers is a business decision (SARE, 2019)
The cost of production in all the mixtures having sweet potato were slightly higher (₦61,740 .00-₦67,340.00) than the AM treated plots (₦51,460.00-₦52,880.00) on the three year average (Table 2).The gross benefit fluctuated over time in most treatments
On the average ₦205,490.00, ₦199,920.00, ₦164,940.00 and ₦130,270.00 were realized respectively from Melon and sweet potato (MS), AS, akidi/melon/sweet potato (AMS) and AM treated plots compared with ₦154,980 from the hand weeded plots
Summary
The decision to use non-chemical weed management options including cover crops, either as sole or mixed by farmers is a business decision (SARE, 2019). The economics of weed control in maize has been reported for maize in many parts of Nigeria and elsewhere (Baba et al, 2015; Omovbude and Udensi, 2012; Maxwel et al, 2019). These studies emphazised use of non-food cover crops planted singly or with herbicdes expecially in forestsavannah transition zones. The decision to adopt cover crop mixtures requires an economic
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