Rendimiento de la planta de frijol caupí [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] y calidad nutricional en los sistemas de cultivo intercalado de frijol caupí y sorgo

Abstract

In traditional row and strip cowpea-sorghum intercropping systems, cowpea forage yield reduces significantly due to intense competition and dominance of sorghum in acquiring growth resources. This field study evaluated novel mixed strip intercropping systems of forage cowpea and sorghum having different number of crops rows arranged under different spatial arrangements. Cowpea was intercropped with sorghum in 8, 12 and 16 rows strips with row-row spacing of 30, 45 and 60 cm. In each strip, equal number of rows of cowpea and sorghum were maintained. Factorial arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replicates was used to execute the field trials during summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. Strips having 12 rows and 60 cm row-row spacing positively affected all agronomic variables of cowpea which led to maximum forage yield (22.2 and 23.7 t ha-1 during 2013 and 2014 respectively) and dry matter biomass (6.63 and 6.94 t ha-1 during 2013 and 2014 respectively). In contrast, 8-rows strips having line spacing of 30 cm outperformed other intercropping systems by yielding the maximum herbage yield and dry matter biomass of sorghum. The intercropping system comprising of 12-rows strips with 60 cm row-row spacing remained superior in recording the maximum crude protein, fats and total ash along with the minimum fiber content of cowpea. In addition, this intercropping system under rest of spatial arrangements also remained unmatched, while 16-rows strips under all planting geometries remained inferior to other intercropping systems. Thus, cowpea intercropping with sorghum in 12-rows strips having 60 cm spacing offers biologically viable solution to improve biomass and forage quality of cowpea in intercropping with sorghum.

Harnessing the Mineral Fertilization Regimes for Bolstering Biomass Productivity and Nutritional Quality of Cowpea (<i>Vigna unguiculata</i> L. Walp)

“…Thus, it might be interpreted that optimized doses of NPK fertilizers triggred the growth of cowpea plants especially plant height (stem length) which resulted in higher concentration of fiber content. Moreover, the minimum CF content recorded in control treatment could be attributed to dwarf plants produced in the absence of fertilizers because stem length contributed the major portion of fiber content in cowpea (Iqbal et al, 2021).…”

“…The recorded data were subjected to Barlett's test for determining the significance of year's impact on response variables of irrigated cowpea under investigation as suggested by Iqbal et al (2021). Thereafter, Fisher's analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique of one-way type was employed to sortout the overall significance of treatments using statistical package of IBM-SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Statistics 20, which were then subjected to the least significant difference (LSD) test at the probability level of 5% for assessing the significance among treatment means.…”

“…Cowpea commonly known as lobia, chunra, rawan, black-eye beans and southern pea, is a short day summer season crop and requires relatively higher temperature to produce higher biomass (Iqbal et al, 2021;Lazaridi et al, 2023). Primarily, it is grown in the semi arid regions of Indo-Pak subcontinent, Bangladesh and south-east Asia along with sub humid tropics of west Africa, Australia, Brazil and southern USA (Samireddypalle et al, 2017).…”

“…Likewise, Musa et reported pronounced increment in crude protein content of cowpea with increasing doses of N fertilizers. Likewise, potassium (K) stimulated several enzymes, boosted photosynthesis process and played strategic roles in the biosynthesis of protein and improved plants toelrance against diseases (Sangakkara et al, 2001;Iqbal et al, 2021). Moreover, Shokoohfar (2015) inferred that 140 kg•ha -1 K produced 19% higher yield of cowpea than control treatment (no P fertilizer).…”

Underutilized Grasses Production: New Evolving Perspectives

“…For example, traits intensely affected by the environment and genotypic and the environmental interaction are more challenging to study and modify [36]. Another approach could be intercropping underutilized grasses with staple cereals and legumes as this approach has the potential to boost soil fertility, total yield, and economic turnouts along with numerous other ecological benefits such as improvement in soil microbial population [37][38][39][40].…”