Growth and yield performance of maize (Zea mays Linnaeus) in intercrop with mungbean (Vigna radiata (L) wilczek) and melon (Citrullus lanatus ThunbMansf.) at Igbariam, Anambra State

E.E. Okoli

Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, P.M.B. 6059 Awka, Anambra State

Abstract

The study of Growth and yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) as sole crop was compared with that of maize intercrop with muungbean (Vignaradiata (L.) Wilczek) and melon (CitrulluslunatusThunbMansf.) atIgbariamAnambra State. The experiment was conducted during May -July, 2017 farming season in the Teaching and Research Farm of Crop Science and Horticulture, Chukwuemekaodumegwuojokwu University, Anambra state. The treatments were sole maize (control), maize/mungbean intercrop, maize/melon intercrop and maize/mungbean/melon intercrop and were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Maize seeds were planted at spacing of 75cmx25cm in each plot; Mungbean and melon seeds were planted in the intercrop plots at spacing of 0.60mx0.60m and 0.40mx0.40m, respectively. Results showed that maize/mungbean produced the highest mean plant height (48.04) and (96.10) at 4and 6 WAP, maize/mungbean/melon produced highest mean number of leaves (12.92). Also, maize/mungbean recorded the highest mean stem girth (6.89). However, observations in these parameters were significantly different (p<0.05) from that of maize in maize/mungbean intercrop, but were not significantly different (p<0.05) from that of maize in maize/melon intercrop, while there could have been ‘mutual cooperation’ of maize with mungbean. In terms of yield, there was no significant difference in the grain yield, biological yield and 1000 seed weight measured. It was concluded that mungbean can serve as compatible component in intercropping system involving maize. 

Keywords

performance of maize; melon; mungbean; intercropping; igbariam; Anambra state.

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