EVALUATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF SOME COWPEA GENOTYPE FOR MAIZE-COWPEA INTERCROP IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) in collaboration with University of California, Riverside are phenotyping 300 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) of Multi–parent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) cowpea population from eight elite cowpea cultivars in Northern Ghana. Among the traits being targeted in the phenotyping is extra early duration cowpea genotypes in Sudan Savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana. This study evaluated some selected early and extra early cowpea genotypes from the MAGIC population in intercrop with maize to identify genotype(s) that can maintain agronomic performance and grain. The experimental design used was split plot with three replications. The cropping patterns (row, strip and sole cropping) were assigned to the main plot. Ten cowpea genotypes (MAGIC 008, MAGIC 043, MAGIC 048, MAGIC 055, MAGIC 076, MAGIC 118, MAGIC 154, MAGIC 176, CB27, and SARC 1-57-2) were assigned to sub-plots. Data were collected on plant height, days to 50 % flowering, number of pod per plant, seed per pod, biomass weight, grain yield and 100 seed weight. The results showed that number of seed per pod and maturity was not affected by genotype and intercrop pattern interaction; however, it influenced grain yield, pod per plant, height, 50% flowering and 100 seed weight of cowpea. MAGIC genotypes, M008, M048, M055, M154, recorded higher grain yield under strip intercropping and sole cropping. SARC1-57-2 also recorded the highest grain yield under row intercropping. M048, M055, M076 M176 and SARI collection SARC1-57-2 were the top five genotypes in fodder production. Intercropping advantage compared to sole cropping was assessed and land equivalent ration (LER) ˃ 1 was observed for all the genotypes with MAGIC 048 recording the highest LER of 1.824 at strip intercrop. MAGIC 048 and MAIGIC 055 in strip intercrop is therefore recommended to farmers since it gave the highest LER and Benefit cost ratio in the intercrop.