Economic Yield and Sustainability of Maize Crop (Zea mays (L.) in Association with Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) and Egusi-melon (Citrullus lunatus (Thumb) niansf) in South Western Nigeria

摘要

Field experiments were conducted during the April 2004 and December 2005 cropping seasons at Kwale, Ndokwa West local Government Council farm annex, in south western Nigeria, to determine the compatibility of maize, cowpea and egusi-melon as well as their economic yield and the stability of these mixtures. The growth parameters considered were plant height and leaf number of maize, cowpea height and number of branches, egusi-melon vine coverage, weed biomass as well as economic yield while land equivalent ratios were calculated from the economic yield. The result of the experiment showed that sole egusi-melon and in association with maize and cowpea significantly suppressed weeds compared to other cropping systems. The economic yields of sole cropswere significantly higher than in their respective crop associations. Associations of three crops had higher combined yields than two crops or sole crops. The LER, was highest in three crop association of 1.91. It was concluded that a system, with the highest combined economic yield, highest LER, in addition to ensuring better crop diversity in the humid tropical environment, a mixture of maize/cowpea/egusi-melon is recommended than sole crops or one or two crop associations.