Profitability of Cowpea Intercropped With Maize in West Africa Guinea Savanna

Abstract

An on-farm trial was conducted over a 2-year period in Tibali in the Savelugu district of Northern region of Ghana to evaluate the productivity and economic returns of hybrid and open pollinated maize (OPV) either in pure stands or intercropped with erect and trailing cowpea. The maize varieties used were medium maturing (110 days) whie the cowpea varieties were early maturiing (70 days). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 14 treatments (sole pan53, sole Etubi, sole mamaba, sole obatampa, sole erect cowpea, sole trailing cowpea, erect cowpea + pan53, erect cowpea+etubi, erect cowpea+mamaba, erect cowpea+obatampa, traing cowpea + pan53, traling cowpea+etubi, trailing cowpea+mamaba and trailing cowpea + obatampa) replicated on 10 farms. Intercropping had better productivity and economic returns than sole cropping. Intercropping maize with trailing cowpea type had better productivity and economic return than intercropping with erect type of cowpea. Intercropping the OPV maize with cowpea had better productivity and economic return than intercropping hybrid maize with cowpea. Farmers may either intercrop OPV maize with trailing cowpea type or hybrid maize variety Pan 53 maize with trailing cowpea type for better productivity and economic return.