Abstract
This experiment was conducted at the Crop Farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka to evaluate the effect of different spatial arrangements on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) under okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) cowpea intercropping in sandy regosol. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having monocropping and different intercropping patterns. The results revealed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among treatments for plant height, root length, leaf area, leaf area index, pod length, number of total and effective nodules per plant, dry weight of effective nodules and total pod yield of cowpea. However, seeds per pod was not significantly different (P>0.05) with different plating patterns. The study concluded that 60 cm between two rows with 150 cm between two pairs of rows of okra with three rows of cowpea in between paired rows would be the most suitable planting system to get maximum growth and yield of cowpea.
Highlights
Systems of food production should be increased for the continuous increasing population in the world while minimizing harmful effects to the environment
At 6th week after planting (WAP), the increase of plant height may be due to higher solar radiation caption by cowpea as okra plant height has predominantly suppressed
Tallest plants were noted in alternative planting (49.90 cm) and statistically the same height was noted in 75/120 cm paired row planting with three rows of cowpea
Summary
Systems of food production should be increased for the continuous increasing population in the world while minimizing harmful effects to the environment. Most framers in both developing and developed countries are using various strategies with the sense of increasing the productivity and the income. The ability of the cowpea plant to fix atmospheric nitrogen is an important factor to maintain soil fertility and its deep roots improve soil structure while its tolerance to drought extends adaptation to drier areas considered marginal for most other crops [Singh et al, 1995]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
