EFFECT OF INTRA-ROW SPACING AND WEEDING FREQUENCY ON THE YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SESAME/COWPEA INTERCROP

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted simultaneously at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching and Research Farm, Bauchi, and Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme experimental sites, Bauchi (Lat. 100 17'N 90 49' E, and 609m above sea level), in the Northern Guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria during the 2002 wet season to study the response of sesame/ cowpea mixture to weeding frequency and intra-row spacings. The treatments were laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications. The result showed that the number of capsules per plant, 100-seed weight, capsules and grain yield per hectare of sesame were significantly (P<0.05) increased by one weeding frequency only at location I. The parameters were not significantly affected by weeding frequency in location II. The capsules length, number of capsules per plant, capsules and grain yield were significantly (P<0.05) affected by intra-row spacings. The capsules and grain yield of sesame increased significantly (P<0.05) with decreasing intra-row spacing and conversely capsules length and number decreased with decreasing intra-row spacing. The number of pods of cowpea significantly (P<0.05) increased by two weeding frequencies at location I and pod yield per hectare was also increased significantly by twice weeding at location II. All the other parameters such as pod lands, seeds per pod, 100-seed weight and grain yield per hectare were not significantly affected by the treatments. The interaction between the intra-row spacings and weeding frequency were significant in affecting number of seed per capsules and 100-seed weight of sesame at location I, and number of pods and seed per pod of cowpea at location II. Intra-row spacing of 30cm and twice weedings produced the highest number of seed per capsules (68.2) and 20cm intra-row spacings with twice weeding produced the highest 100- seed weight. However, 30cm intra-row spacings with one weeding had highest number of pods (24.3) in cowpea plant and also 30cm intra-row spacing with twice weedings produced the highest seeds per pod in cowpea.