POPULATION AND PLANTING PATTERN EFFECTS ON INTERCROPPED MAIZE AND COWPEA

Field studies on the nature of competition and the effects of various planting patterns on maize/cowpea intercrop yields were conducted in S outhwestern Nigeria. Relative Crowding Coefficient values indicated th at maize dominated cowpea. The magnitude of competition between maize and cowpea is related to season and nitrogen fertilizer. Based on grai n yields, maize and cowpea compete for N only when it was applied but tended to derive it from different sources in the absence of applied N . Spatial arrangements designed to increase light reaching intercroppe d cowpea included alternate and double rows of cowpeas between maize r ows. These did not, however, increase grain yields of cowpeas over tho se intercropped with maize in the same row.