Productivity Indices of Bambranut as Determined by Intra-row Spacing when Intercropped with Maize

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate productivity indices and their response to varying spacing of bambaranuts (Vigna subterranea L. Verdec) intercropped with maize. The indices were land equivalent ratio (LER), area time equivalent ratio (ATER), relative yield (RY), system productivity index (SPI), monetary advantage (MA) and income equivalent ratio (IER). Three crop planting systems were used as factors: sole bambaranut, bambaranut intercropped with maize, and sole maize. Bambaranut seeds were sown in 1:1 alternate rows of maize and at various spacing on plots measuring 4.5 × 3.5 m. There were three factors in different levels: (1) sole bambaranut sown at intra-row spacing of (i) 45 cm, (ii) 35 cm, (iii) 30 cm, (iv) 25 cm, and (v) 15 cm; (2) sole maize; (3) intercropped maize-bambaranut in: (i) 45 cm, (ii) 35 cm, (iii) 30 cm, (iv) 25 cm, and (v) 15 cm. A medium maturing maize variety Hybrid H513 was sown at the constant intraand inter-row spacing of 75 × 30 cm at the populationdensity of 45714 plants/ha for all plots. Bambaranut landrace KK204 was used for the study. The experiment was repeated for three growing seasons (2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009). Significant (p<0.05) differences for both mono- and intercropped bambaranuts for weight of pods/plant; pod and grain yield, IER, MA and SPI for 2006/2007, 2007/2008 and 2008/09 growing seasons; shelling %, LER and ATER for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 growing seasons; relative yield (RY) for 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. Maize showed significant (p<0.05) differences for both mono-and those intercropped with bambaranuts for shelling %, grain yield/ha for 2006/2007 and 2007/2009 growing seasons, RY and IER for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 growing seasons.