Productivity of Roselle/cowpea intercropping system in a semi-arid agroecology

The effects of three planting densities (27,700; 37,000 and 55,500 plants ha-1) of roselle grown sole or intercropped with cowpea were investigated in two field trials in the 1997 and 1998 wet seasons at Sokoto. The leaf area index (LAI) of roselle was highest with the highest roselle planting density in the sole or intercropping cultures in 1997, but in 1998 cropping season, planting density did not influence the LAI. Cowpea LAIs were similar, except the lowest value obtained with cowpea intercropped with the lowest roselle planting density. Intercropping did not affect the number of roselle pods per plant but reduced dry calyx yield by 39% and 36% (1997) and 33% and 38% (1998) when the lowest and the highest roselle populations were grown with cowpea. Yield reduction which was more for cowpea ranged from 34-46% (1997) and 41-57% (1998) and from 38- 47% (1997) and 27-49% (1998) for number of pods/plant and grain yield/ha, respectively. The productivity of the roselle/cowpea culture showed yield advantage of 13%-70% (1997) and 38%- 49% (1998) when the two crops were intercropped at higher roselle populations. Keywords: Roselle, Cowpea, intercropping, productivity [Global Jnl Agric Res Vol.1(2) 2002: 111-118