CONTRIBUTION OF LEGUMINOUS CROPS TO NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF YAM BASED SYSTEMS

Abstract

A trial was conducted at Umudike, Nigeria in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 to determine the contribution of leguminous cover crops Voandzea subterranea (bambara nut), Arachis hypogea (groundnut) and Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea) to the conservation of soil resource base and productivity of yam minisett based systems. The systems studied were sole yam minisett, yam minisett/bambara nut, yam minisett/groundnut, and yam minisett/pigeon pea. Intercropping yam minisett with either ground nut or bambara nut decreased seed yam yield relative to sole yam minisett. Highest seed yam yields of 4.70 t/ha and 4.67 t/ha were obtained with yam minisett/pigeon pea and sole yam minisett respectively and these were significantly higher (P [Niger Agric. J. 34 (2003): 44-48]