Maize–cowpea intercropping as an ecological approach for nitrogen-use rationalization and weed suppression

Abstract

Small-scale farmers are harshly suffering from high production costs, and so they permanently try to seek and apply the best cheap practices, bearing in mind that no yield losses occur. The objective of this work was to assess the possibility of lowering applied N rate in maize fields associated with less weeds infestation and keeping/boosting productivity. Thus, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of maize yield and associated weeds to N levels (0, 144, 216, and 288 kg N ha −1 ) as well as maize (M)-cowpea (C) intercrops, sole-M, MC same ridge, MC alternating ridges, and sole-C. MC alternating ridges intercrop decreased weed biomass by 49.5% compared with sole-M. Sole-M was similar to MC alternating ridges intercrop in producing the maximum maize grain yield per hectare. In plots fertilized with 216 or 288 kg N ha −1 , MC alternating ridges were statistically at par with sole-M for enhancing maize grain yield per hectare. Medium N application level (216 kg N ha −1 ) with MC alternating ridges showed the highest agronomic efficiency (14.6 kg kg −1 ). MC alternating ridges intercrop can save 26% of the cultivated land.

Influence of Intercropping Cowpea with some Maize Hybrids and N Nano-Mineral Fertilization on Productivity in Salinity Soil

“…In general, the highest negative values were obtained by intercropping cowpea with TWC 321 hybrid that received 100% mineral fertilization, meanwhile, intercropping cowpea with SC176 hybrid and fertilized by 100% nano urea only had the lowest negative values. Similar results are accordance with Takim (2012) and Saudy (2015) they found that maize was the dominant crop, while cowpea was the dominated one. changes, depending on the properties of NPs.…”

“…On the other hand, the intercropping with TWC maize hybrid produced the lowest gross return (8834 and 9550 LE/fed) and net return (1264 and 1980 LE/fed) when fertilized by nano urea only in first and second seasons, respectively. Economic benefit was higher in maize/cowpea intercropping systems (Takim, 2012;Saudy, 2015;Abdel-Wahab et al, 2016;Olowolaju & Okunlola, 2017).…”

“…However, fresh and dry forage yields of cowpea were lower in intercropping with maize than when cultivated without maize (Abdel-Wahab et al, 2016;Toungos et al, 2018). Land equivalent ratio, Aggressivity and economic benefit were higher, in maize/cowpea intercropping systems (Takim, 2012;Saudy, 2015;Abdel-Wahab et al, 2016;Olowolaju & Okunlola, 2017).…”

Molecules Best Paper Award 2015

“…For instance, intercropping maize and cowpea on alternate ridges helped reduce weed [Echinochloa colona (L.) Link., Portulaca oleracea L., Chorchorus olitorius L., and Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd.] intensity bỹ 50% as well as improve land use efficiency (Saudy, 2015). In another study, the relay-intercropping of legumes with wheat was evaluated for weed suppression in comparison with the sole wheat crop (Amoss e et al, 2013).…”

Evaluation of chemical and non-chemical weed control practices on weed communities and maize yield in two agroecological zones of Swaziland

“…Sustainable agriculture calls for limiting use of herbicides either by reducing application rates (Zhang et al, 2013), herbicide rotations, use of selective narrowspectrum products, containing the most ecologically detrimental range of products (Norsworthy et al, 2012) or using alternative soil and crop management methods (Pacanoski et al, 2015;Saudy, 2015). However, development of effective strategic combinations of weed control techniques, where herbicides are a part, remains a major limitation to farmers and their agents in emerging agriculture already beset with poor adoption of herbicide technology.…”