Effect of intercropping barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) landraces under rainfed conditions in the central highlands of Eritrea: productivity, growth and yield attributes

Mixed cropping of barley and wheat is one of the most Important cropping systems in the highlands of Eritrea as well as in some parts of Northern Ethiopia. However, one of the factors affecting productivity is the type of genotype combination. Thus field experiments were conducted in 1998 and season 2 to evaluate the yield performance of four barley (Hordeum vulgare) and four wheat (Triticum aestlvum) landraces in sole crops and mixed stands in the central highlands of Eritrea. Total grain yield differed significantly among the landrace combinations in both years. Kuunto (barley) was best for grain yield, averaged over two years both in pure cropping and in mixtures. Among the wheat genotypes Mana performed best in mixtures. The control mixture, Yeha + Mana, was surpassed by other varietal mixtures. Total grain yield was highest in a mixture of Ardu 12/60 + Kenya + Mana followed by Kuunto + Mana. This set of experiments showed that mixed cropping performed better than sole crops and that the best genotype combinations in mixtures differ from what farmers are currently using.