Effect of plant density and genotypes of cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (l.) walp.) on the growth and yield of millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.)

Abstract

Millet and cowpea intercropping system, the most widespread in Niger has high potential and can increase smallholders’ farmer productivity if proper techniques are applied. In order to evaluate the effect of density and cowpea genotypes on the growth and yield of millet and cowpea in intercropping, an experiment was conducted in the field during rainy season 2015 in Boki village located at approximately 40 km in the west of Niamey (Niger). Ten cowpea genotypes were grown in association with a single variety of millet in two densities in the ratio line millet intercropped with a cowpea line (density 1) and line millet intercropped with two cowpea lines (density 2). The experimental design was a split plot with three replications. Cowpea genotypes were in main plots, and the sowing densities in small plots. Millet was sown at the same density. Millet growth parameters (height, number and weight of panicles) were not significantly affected either by plant density or cowpeas genotypes. However, the number of tillers/m² were affected by cowpea genotypes. Cowpea pods yield and yield components such as number of pods/m², thousand seed weight were affected by the genotypes but not by plant density. The results indicated that cowpea genotypes ISV128 and Suvita2 could improve productivity of the cropping system millet / cowpea in the Sahel region by favouring density 2.