Evaluation of four improved soybean varieties under different planting date in relayed cropping system with maize under soybean/maize/cassava intercrop

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at Ibadan; Southwest Nigeria in 2001 and 2002 to evaluate the effects of relayed intercropping of four improved soybean varieties with maize in soybean/maize/cassava intercropped. Intercropping depressed maize grain yield and cassava fresh tuber yield. The response observed in the yields of maize and cassava under different soybean varieties in intercropping systems with maize and cassava was not significant. Soybean plant height at harvest, number of days to 50 percent flowering, number of pods per plant, weight of 100 seeds and seed yield were significantly affected by intercropping systems. Soybean variety TGX 1019-2E gave the highest values (66.69, 20.73 g and 1.02 t/ha) for number of pods per plant, weight of 100 seeds and seed yield, respectively, under intercropping systems. The response observed in 2001 and 2002 was significant for weight of 100 seed and seeds yield. The higher values (18.53 g and 0.87 t/ha) were obtained for 2001 compared to that of 2002. The number of weeds per 1 m x 1 m guardant significantly varied among intercropping systems. Cassava/soybean relayed with maize under intercropping system gave the least values (50.29 and 35.63) at 5 and 7 weeks after sowing respectively. Among the four improved soybean varieties evaluated under intercropping, TGX 1019-2E and TGX 1448-2E gave the least values at 7 and 9 weeks after sowing. © 2007 Academic Journals.