Nematode Population as Influenced by Different Tillage Practices in Maize-Cowpea Cropping System
Loading...
Date
2019-07-18
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Nematode population varies with different cultural practices and soil manipulation techniques. For this purpose, a study was conducted to determine the effect of tillage practices on nematode population in a maize–cowpea cropping system. Tillage practices evaluated were plough (P), plough and harrow (PH), and traditional (heap) (T), while cropping patterns were sole-cowpea (SC), sole-maize (SM), and maize–cowpea intercrop (MC) at different spacing (60cm × 30cm; 60cm × 60cm; 60cm × 15cm). Parameters included plant height, number of leaves, number of branches (cowpea), leaf area index, nematode population, and yield parameters. There is no difference between growth parameters after statistical analysis but numerically, there is. The yield was analyzed in tons/ha where cropping pattern SM and cowpea in MC performed better (1.13 and 8.5 tons/ha respectively). SM yield was better on T (9.06 t/ha) while SC yield was better on plough and harrow (9.39 t/ha). Trend observed for cropping pattern: M > Mi in MC > Ci, nematode population fluctuated with crop age and tillage practice: maize M₂T > PH > P, cowpea PH > P > T. Generally, when subjected to land equivalent ratio (LER), MC recorded highest LER of (2.74) on a plough and harrow land.