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The Effects of Sole and Traditional Intercropping of Millet and Cowpea on Soil and Crop Productivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

K. C. Reddy ,
P. L. Visser ,
M. C. Klaij  and
C. Renard
K. C. Reddy
Affiliation:
Alabama A & M University, PO Box 1208, Normal, Alabama 35762, USA
P. L. Visser
Affiliation:
National Agronomic Research Institute of Niger (INRAN), BP 429, Niamey, Niger
M. C. Klaij
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Niamey, Niger
C. Renard
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Niamey, Niger
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Summary

The after effects of three years' continuous cropping with sole millet, sole cowpea or a traditional millet/cowpea intercrop were compared using five levels of nitrogen fertilizer. The continuous sole cowpea system had reduced the carbon to nitrogen ratio more than the continuous sole millet or the traditional intercrop. The test crop millet yielded much more, and its uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was greater, when it followed sole cowpea than when it followed sole millet or the traditional millet/cowpea intercrop. The three years' continuous sole cowpea had an effect equivalent to the application of 205 kg N ha−1 on the test crop of millet. It also caused the greatest reduction in Striga infestation in the test crop. It is therefore recommended that cowpea cultivation be increased in the Sahel.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , January 1994 , pp. 83 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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References

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