Abstract
Weed competition has been a major challenge limiting crop yield especially in intercropping systems. Information on the use of chemicals for weed control in intercropping systems appears scanty. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pendimethalin (P) at 1 kg active ingredient/ha, and hand weeding (HW) on mineral contents of the harvested grains and effects of various weed control treatments in maize, cowpea, and their intercrop. Field experiments were carried out during the 2017 and 2018 rainy seasons. The field layout followed complete randomized block design with three replicates. There were eight treatments: Sole Maize/Cowpea + P, Sole Maize/Cowpea + P + 1HW at 3 weeks after sowing (WAS), Sole Maize/Cowpea + P+ 2HW at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS), Sole Maize/Cowpea weedy check, Intercrop + P, Intercrop + P + 1HW at 3WAS, Intercrop + P + 2HW at 3 and 6 WAS and Intercrop weedy check. It was observed that, P+1HW and P+2HW in both cropping systems have significant effects (p<0.05) and effectively control weed and increase the mineral contents in maize, cowpea, and their respective intercrop. The study revealed that, the mineral composition of maize and cowpea grains were improved by using pendimethalin with supplementary hand weeding. The study recommends that farmers should adopt intercropping maize with cowpea using pendimethalin plus one supplementary hand weeding at 3 WAS.
Highlights
Population explosion and community expansions in developing countries are the major cause of reduced availability of arable land in spite of increasing demand for agricultural products (Seran and Brintha, 2009)
The maximum value was observed in sole maize treated with pendimethalin plus two hand weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) (25.62 mg/100g) followed by intercrop plot treated with pendimethalin plus one hand weeding at 3 WAS (19.43 mg/100g), while the lowest was observed in weedy check
The lowest was observed in weedy check of both cropping systems
Summary
Population explosion and community expansions in developing countries are the major cause of reduced availability of arable land in spite of increasing demand for agricultural products (Seran and Brintha, 2009). Intercropping is one of several farming techniques that have been identified and being practiced globally, especially in West Africa, in other to achieve adequate food supply for these teeming populations. Apart from increasing the production cost, they harbour disease and insect pests by serving as alternative hosts (Chauhan, 2020). Weed infestation is a vital factor that is responsible for low crop yield (Tahir et al, 2009; Yadav et al, 2017). Density, as well as their persistence and crop management practices are some of the factors that determine the magnitude of crop yield loss
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