Reduction of stemborer damage by intercropping maize with cowpea

Abstract

The effect of intercropping maize with cowpea on the damage caused by three species of lepidopteran stemborers ( Chilo partellus, Chilo orichalcociliellus, and Sesamia calamistis) was studied in Kenya. Significantly higher yields of maize (27–57%) were found in the intercrop in four out of five experiments, corresponding with significantly lower numbers (15–25%) of stemborers. A multiple regression model predicting yield per maize plant showed that 77% of the variation could be explained by site, rainfall, and the number of stemborers.