Effect of Soil Water Conservation Methods on Vegetative Growth and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), Intercropped with Cow Pea (Vigna ungcuilata L. Walp) in Western Kordafan state

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in two locations (Elfoula and Babanousa), Western Kordofan state seasons 2011/ 12 and 2012/ 13, to determine the effect of soil water conservations methods on vegetative growth of sorghum crop intercropped with cowpea.The experimental design was randomized complete plots design with three replications. The main plots were assigned forhand hoe (main local method of plough used) (L1) and hand hoe with terrace L2, animal plough L3 and animal plough with terrace L4. The crop sowing methods waslaid in sub plots as follows:S1 Sorghum mono crop, S2 Sorghum intercrop,C1 Cowpea intercrop, C2 Cowpea mono crop. Generally the soil preparation with animal traction and terrace (L4) showed the highest plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, and dry weight products followed by soil prepared with hand hoe and terrace for two locations and two seasons. The effect of methods of land preparation on soil moisture conservation and its effectiveness on yield components of sorghum intercropped with cowpea for two locations.The resultsshowed that L4 (animal traction plough with terrace and mono crop sowing methods) obtained high yield compound within location and seasons.Location (Lo2, Se1), Babanousa location season 2011/ 12 showed high yield compound than other treatments.For the two locations and seasons, the result was that L4(animal traction with terrace and monocrop methods ) showed high yield. Also the results showed that the vegetative growth and yield components of sorghum intercropped with cowpea was varied within location and seasons.