Effects of Intercropping on the Performance of Maize and Cowpeas in Botswana

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Botswana College of Agriculture garden to investigate the effects intercropping maize and cowpeas on the performance of maize and cowpeas. The treatments were sole maize crop, sole cowpea crop, intercrop 1 (spacing of 40 cm between of maize and cowpea) and intercrop 2 (spacing of 30 cm between maize and cowpea) served as treatments. The experiment was monitored from November to March. The results show that only maize dry matter was significantly reduced by intercropping. Intercropping reduced the number cowpea flowers per plant but had no significant effect in the number of seeds per pod and weight of seeds. Cowpea dry matter weight was significantly reduced by intercropping. Planting pattern significantly affected the number of cowpea flowers, number of pods and dry matter weight. Appropriate spacing/planting pattern should be considered when intercropping cereal and legume.