Field trials were conducted during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State located in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. The objective of the study was to evaluate the response of some improved sweet potato varieties planted at three densities to intercropping with soybean. The experiment was a 2x3x3 split-split plot laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot consisted of two cropping systems [sole cropping (sweet potato, soybean) and intercropping (sweet potato + soybean). The sub-plot consisted of three sweet potato varieties (CIP440037, NRSP/05/007C and CIP440141). The sub-sub-plot treatment comprised of three sweet potato planting densities (25,000 plants/ha, 33,000 plants/ha and 50,000 plants/ha). Intercropping severely depressed the yields of both sweet potato varieties and the soybean component, such that intercrop yields were rarely above 50% of sole crop yields, irrespective of the sweet potato variety used. The number and weight of the sweet potato component was not significantly affected at the planting density of 50,000 plants/ha. Indices used to measure intercrop advantage showed that intercropping these sweet potato varieties with soybean was biologically efficient and percentage land saved varied from 23.08 and 32.43. Soybean was more competitive than sweet potato at all densities tested.

Field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of time

Gongronema latifolium (Benth) called Utasi by Igbos and Arokeke by Yorubas belongs to Ascepiadaceae family. It is an herbaceous climbing plant found in the tropical region. The leaves are used for food, culinary, medicinal and other domestic purposes. The plant is found among the wild and is not cultivated in regular farms. It is one of the endanger species that stands the risk of been extinct. Therefore, the study was carried out to determine the responses of Gongronema latifolium to seven rates of NPK

Field experiments were conducted to assess the effect of time of introduction of maize and cropping pattern on two varieties of soybean in a soybean/maize intercrop in 2007 and 2008 seasons at the University of Agriculture Makurdi. Three periods of introduction of maize were evaluated: (i) planting at the same time with soybean;(ii) introduction of maize two weeks after planting soybean and (iii) introduction of maize four weeks after planting soybean. There were five cropping patterns viz: (i) soybean variety Samsoy-2 planted sole (ii) soybean variety TGX 1448-2E planted sole (iii) maize variety DMR-ESR-Y planted sole (iv) Samsoy -2 intercrop with maize and (v) TGX1448-2E intercrop with maize. The experiment was a split plot laid on complete randomized block design replicated three times. Results obtained revealed that there was no significant effect of time of introduction of maize on any soybean parameter observed. Yield and yield components of soybean indicated significant effect of cropping pattern (P<0.01) with number of pods per plant and grain yield. Grain yield and number of pods per plant decreased in intercrop with soybean variety Samsoy-2 having the highest number of pods per plant and grain yield. The result on maize indicated that maize planted sole was significantly (P<0.01) taller than intercropped maize, there was significant (P<0.01) effect of time of introduction of maize and cropping pattern on maize plant height, ear length, ear diameter, survival and barrenness percentage and grain yield. The Land Equivalent ratio (LER) values indicated that higher yield advantages were obtained from maize introduced two weeks after planting soybean and maize intercropped with soybean variety Samsoy-2 (1.35) than with soybean variety TGX1448-2E (1.12).

Field trials were conducted during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State located in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. The objective of the study was to evaluate the response of some improved sweet potato varieties planted at three densities to intercropping with soybean. The experiment was a 2x3x3 split-split plot laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plot consisted of two cropping systems [sole cropping (sweet potato, soybean) and intercropping (sweet potato + soybean). The sub-plot consisted of three sweet potato varieties (CIP440037, NRSP/05/007C and CIP440141). The sub-sub-plot treatment comprised of three sweet potato planting densities (25,000 plants/ha, 33,000 plants/ha and 50,000 plants/ha). Intercropping severely depressed the yields of both sweet potato varieties and the soybean component, such that intercrop yields were rarely above 50% of sole crop yields, irrespective of the sweet potato variety used. The number and weight of the sweet potato component was not significantly affected at the planting density of 50,000 plants/ha. Indices used to measure intercrop advantage showed that intercropping these sweet potato varieties with soybean was biologically efficient and percentage land saved varied from 23.08 and 32.43. Soybean was more competitive than sweet potato at all densities tested.