Productivity of Maize/ Bambara Groundnut Intercrop with Poultry Manure Rates.

A field experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The main objective was to determine the productivity of maize/bambara groundnut intercrop with poultry manure in Owerri ultisol. The experiment consists of two (2) factors; poultry manure with 4 levels (0, 4, 8 and 12t/ha) and cropping system; sole cropping system and intercropping system (sole maize, sole Bambara and maize/bambara groundnut intercrop). This was a 4×3 factorial experiment fitted in a randomized complete block design with three (3) replications. Data on the pre and post-soil physicochemical properties, vegetative growth and yield parameters of the component crops were investigated and statistically analyzed. The results indicate that 12t ha-1 poultry manure application gave the highest growth and grain yield in maize while 4t ha-1 gave the highest grain yield in bambara groundnut as excessive manure led to delayed maturity and lush vegetative growth at the expense of pod production. Productivity indices as indicated by LER shows that maize/bambara groundnut intercropping was productive i.e has yield advantage over sole cropping. The soil pH status was significantly increased with poultry manure application after the experiment in 2016 and 2017 indicating the liming ability of poultry manure. Other soil physicochemical properties were improved with poultry manure and intercropping system. Maize/bambara groundnut intercropping system with 12t ha-1 poultry manure rate for maize as main crop and 4t/ha poultry manure rate for bambara groundnut as the inter crop are therefore recommended for adoption by farmers for efficient production and sustainable land use in Owerri ultisol South eastern Nigeria. Keywords: maize, Bambara groundnut, poultry manure, intercrop, ultisol, productivity