Forage Yield of Maize as Effected by Maize- Cowpea Mixtures

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, College of Agricultural Studies - Sudan University of Science and Technology - Shambat, in summer 2013, to study the effect of different seed rate of cowpea on forage and growth of maize under mixed cropping system. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The treatments involved different combinations of cowpea-maize mixture viz. A(1:1)one plot divided into parts 50%maize and 50%cowpea.B(1:3) 3cowpea and 1maize.C(3:1)3mize and 1cowpea.D (2:2) 2maize and 2cowpea in one hole, in four replications. Different characters measured were plant height (cm), number of leaves, number of Internodes, stem diameter(cm), fresh weight(g), and dry weight (g). The statistical analysis showed significant differences for plant height and stem diameter. The results showed that the treatment C 3:1 (3Cowpea and 1Maize) was considered as the best treatment for plant height . The treatment B1:3 (1cowpea and 3maize) gave the best non-significant results for number of leaves, number of internodes and fresh weight .