Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Mechanisation, University of Agriculture. P.M.B. 2240. Abeokuta, Nigeria.
A study was conducted for five seasons on an intensively cultivated Oxic Paleudult to investigate the role of monocropped and intercropped cowpea in maintaining nitrogen status of soil for optimum maize production. Maize grain yields were significantly increased when cowpea was rotated with maize, either as monocrop or inter-crop, as compared with continuous maize. The fertilizer equivalent of the increase could be as highas 75 kgN ha−1. Increase in productivity could be as high as 209 per cent when maize and cowpea are intercropped in the second season. Maize-cowpea rotation can provide sustainable alternative to chemical N fertilizers and can supply most or some of the maize N requirements.
Paleudult, sustainable, monocrop, intercrop, productivity
