Intercropping Maize and Cowpea Cultivars: I. Green-Grain Yield

Abstract

Green ears of maize are much appreciated all over Brazil and reach higher prices than dry grain. This also occurs with green cowpea grain, which is much appreciated in the north and northeast of the country. The aim of this study was to identify maize and cowpea cultivars that can be grown as monocrops or intercrops to produce green grain in the state of Pará (PA). An experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with six replications in Marabá, PA. Monocrops of traditional varieties of the cowpea ('Corujinha' and 'Sempre Verde') and the maize cultivars ('AG 1051' and 'AL Bandeirante'), and four alternating, intercropped rows of a combination of the varieties and cultivars were evaluated. The 'AG 1051' cultivar was more productive than the 'AL Bandeirante' cultivar, as both a monocrop and an intercrop. The cowpea cultivars showed a similar performance under both systems of cultivation. There was no interaction between the maize cultivars and cowpea cultivars. The monocrops were superior to the intercrops for green-ear, green-pod and green-grain yield. Considering the land equivalent ratio, if the aim is to produce green pods, intercropping is only beneficial in the AG 1051 + Corujnha combination. If the aim is for green-grain yield in the cowpea, intercropping is more advantageous when the 'AG 1051' cultivar is combined with any cowpea cultivar. The intercrop including the 'AL Bandeirante' cultivar is only beneficial with the 'Corujinha' cultivar, and if the aim is to market unhusked, green ears of maize.