Effect of Row Arrangements on Sorghum-Cowpea Intercrops in the Semi Arid Savannah of Nigeria

A two year field experiments were conducted at 3 locations (Azare, Bauchi & Misau) in the savannah agroecology of Nigeria to investigate the effects of row arrangements on the yield and productivity of sorghum and cowpea intercrop. The treatments comprised one sole sorghum (Sam-sorg 10); one sole cowpea (Yar-Itas -a popular local & spreading variety) and three different sorghum/cowpea combinations arranged in replacement series within the rows of 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1 of the sorghum-cowpea combinations. The treatments were replicated five times in a randomized complete block design. Both grain and stover/haulm yields of sorghum and cowpea sole crops were higher than the intercrops. Yields of component crops in the intercrop varied with the row arrangements of crops. There was no significant difference in both the LER and SPI of 1:1 and 2:1 sorghum/cowpea arrangements. However for higher grain and stover yield stability in sorghum (primary crop) a 1:1 and 2:1 sorghum/cowpea row arrangement, respectively should be adopted in the semi-arid savannah zone of Nigeria. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers