Spatial Arrangements on Growth and Yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in Intercropping

Abstract

This experiment was conducted at the Crop Farm of Eastern University, Sri Lanka to evaluate the effect of different spatial arrangements on growth and yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) under okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) cowpea intercropping in sandy regosol. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having monocropping and different intercropping patterns. The results revealed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among treatments for plant height, root length, leaf area, leaf area index, pod length, number of total and effective nodules per plant, dry weight of effective nodules and total pod yield of cowpea. However, seeds per pod was not significantly different (P>0.05) with different plating patterns. The study concluded that 60 cm between two rows with 150 cm between two pairs of rows of okra with three rows of cowpea in between paired rows would be the most suitable planting system to get maximum growth and yield of cowpea.