Growth and Yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as Influenced by Population Density of Component Cowpea in a Sesame-cowpea Mixture
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Date
2017-07-13
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Abstract
Aim: To study the effects of population density on the growth and yield of sesame (Sesamum
indicum L.) intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unquiculata L. Walp).
Materials and Methods: A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of kwara
State University, Malete (08° 42 ᶦᶦ 48.5N and 004° 26 17.9ᶦᶦ E) in the southern Guinea savannah
agro-ecological zone of Nigeria in 2014 cropping season. The treatments consisted of full
population of sesame intercropped with 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% full population of cowpea. Sole
sesame and cowpea were also included as control. Cowpea populations were introduced into
sesame at two weeks after planting. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete
block design and replicated three times. Efficiency of intercropping was evaluated using land
equivalent ratio (LER) and percentage yield difference indices (PYD).
Results: Intercropping significantly influenced growth and yield of cowpea, meanwhile, growth and
yield of sesame were not affected by intercropping. The highest height of cowpea, 22.30 cm, was
recorded when full populations of both crops were mixed. Combinations of full population of both
crops produced lowest number of branches (1.03) and pods (1.87) per plants in cowpea and also
recorded highest LER (1.30) and PYD (31%). Sole cowpea significantly out-yielded other treatment
combinations in the intercrop