Evaluation of Temporal Variations for Intercropping Maize and Sesame in the Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria

Aim: The experiments were conducted to determine effects of time of introducing sesame into maize or vice versa on the performances of the intercrops.

Study Design: Randomized complete block design replicated four times.

Place and Duration of Study: Teaching and Research Farm, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria in 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons.

Methodology: The treatments were (i) Sole Sesame (0 week) (ii) Sole maize (0 week) (iii) Sole Sesame – established 2 weeks later (iv) sole Maize – established 2 weeks later (v) Maize/Sesame (0 week) (vi) Maize/Sesame (sesame introduced into maize after 2 weeks) and (vii) Sesame/Maize (maize introduced into sesame after 2 weeks). The test crops were sesame (Sesamum indicum) variety E8 and Maize (Zea mays) variety ACR-9931-DMR-SR-Y. Five sesame plants were randomly selected per plot and tagged for collection of data on plant height and podding nodes. At maturity, maize and sesame were harvested and the grain yields determined. Sub samples of the grains were taken to the laboratory and analyzed for N, P, and K contents.

Results: Both years, simultaneous sowing of maize/sesame had no adverse effect on maize yield. Introducing sesame into maize two weeks later caused significant reduction in grain yield and NPK uptakes compared with sole maize. Simultaneous planting and introducing sesame into maize 2 weeks later reduced sesame seed yield by mean of 134.5 and 1392.5% respectively compared with sole planting. Based on calculated LER, intercropping maize and sesame was superior to sole cropping and such advantage was in the range of 16 to 85%.

Conclusion: Simultaneous intercropping maize/sesame had no adverse effect on maize yield but sesame was a weak competitor, therefore, for commercial cultivation sole cropping of sesame is recommended.