Evaluating Yield Performance of Cowpea Varieties under Sole and Intercropping With Sorghum at Bauchi, Nigeria

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during the rainy seasons of 1997 and 1998 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Research Farm, Bauchi (10020’ and 9048’E) to evaluate the yield performance of some Cowpea varieties under Sole and Intercropping with Sorghum at Bauchi, Nigeria. The treatments consist of Sole Cowpea, Cowpea + Sorghum and Sole Sorghum which makes up the main treatment and ten Cowpea varieties (IT89KD-391, IT93K-452-1, IT90K-277-2, IT86D-719, IT89KD-349, IT93K-734, IT93K-273-2-1, IT90K-372-1-2, and Local yar dunga (L)) combined factorially in a split plot design with three replications. Results revealed that Cowpea Plant height, Days to fifty percent flowering, Leaf area and Leaf area indices were not significantly affected by intercropping in 1997 and 1998. The mean number of pod/plant, pod weight and seed yield of the cowpea varieties showed a significant difference in Sorghum intercrop. Sorghum Plant height, Leaf area and Leaf area indices were significantly affected by intercropping in 1997 and 1998 cropping seasons. Similarly Sorghum stover and grain yield were significantly affected by intercropping. Land equivalent ratio greater than 1.00 was recorded in the two years of the investigation. For intercropping purpose, it is therefore suggested that varieties IT90K-372-1-2, IT90K-277-2, IT88D-867-11, IT89KD-391 and IT86D-719 are more suitable for high yields in Bauchi.