Free access | Research Article
Published on: 30 Sep 2022 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.37446/jinagri/rsa/9.3.2022.29-39 | Volume: 9, Issue: 3 | Pages: 29-39 |
The experiment consists of five local accessions of African Yam Bean viz; Gboko, Makurdi, Otukpo, Ukum and Ushongo accessions; inter-row spacing was 75 cm while intra-row spacing was 30 cm for African Yam Bean and 75 cm x 20 cm, 75 cm x 30 cm and 75 cm x 40 cm for maize. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three (3) replicates. A plot size of 4 m x 3.4 m (13.6 m2) was used; parameters measured include plant height, number of seeds per plant, number of leaves per plant, number of seeds per pod, grain yield, pod length, percentage seed weight, cob length and cob width. The experiment revealed that Otukpo accession of African Yam Bean intercropped with maize at 40 cm x 75 cm gave the highest grain yield (2.15 t/ha) and highest number of pods/plant (18.88). The Gboko accession of the African Yam Bean intercropped with maize at 40 cm x 75 cm gave the highest pod length (16.93 cm) and highest number of seeds/plant (14.45). Sole planting of the Otukpo accession of the African Yam Beam gave the highest percentage seed weight. Sole planting of the Oshongo accession of the African Yam Beam also produced the tallest plants (28.01 cm and 79.37 cm) consistently. Similarly, Oshongo accession when intercropped with maize at 40 cm x 75 cm gave the highest number of leaves (135 and 175) consistently. Percentage seed weight, cob length, cob weight and grain yield of maize was affected by intercropping as Markurdi accession of AYB intercropped with maize at 40 cm x 75 cm produced the highest grain yield (2.09 tha-1) of maize. Grain yield result of AYB shows that Otukpo accession intercropped with maize at 40 cm x 75 cm presents optimum potential for intercropping and highest performance among other accessions examined and therefore recommended for Makurdi farmers.