Evaluation of yield of components of sorghum/cowpea intercrops in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone

Abstract

An experiment to evaluate the performance of some improved cowpea genotypes intercropped with sorghum in single alternate row arrangement was conducted at Minjibir, Kano, Nigeria. 30 cowpea genotypes differing in maturity and growth habits and local sorghum variety were used. The results indicated that a medium maturing genotype, IT95K-222-14 produced the highest grain yield while Danila, a medium maturing improve local cultivar, recorded the highest fodder yield. Some late maturing, spreading cowpea genotypes produced little or no grain yield. The yield and yield components of sorghum were not affected by cowpea genotype. Analysis of the intercrop productivity (LER) demonstrated that intercropping sorghum with IT95K-222-14 gave the highest value (1.88). Based on high grain and fodder yields, intercrop productivity Danila, IT90K-277-2, IT95K-1091-3, IT96D-759, IT96D-666 and IT95K-222-14 could be selected for improving the productivity of sorghum/cowpea mixture in the Sudan savanna.