ABSTRACT
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Waip) is an important grain
legume in Nigeria. It is an inexpensive source of vegetable protein. Cowpea
production in Nigeria is largely constrained by insect pests. Field studies
were conducted for two cropping seasons in Umudike Nigeria to determine the
effect of cowpea-turmeric intercrop on field insect pests of cowpea. The
experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) using ten
treatments with three replications. During the experiment, turmeric was intercropped
with two varieties of cowpea (IT89KD-391 and IT86D-719) which was planted 5
weeks after the turmeric had sprouted. Fowl droppings were incorporated into
the soil after the beds were made. Results obtained showed no significant
difference in leaf area in all the crop mixtures. There was also no significant
difference in cowpea plant height. However the IT89KD-391 intercropped with
turmeric showed significantly higher plant height (56.6) when compared with the
sole turmeric which recorded 42.5. Result obtained indicated that intercrop had
significant decrease on the population of Aphis craccivora and Riptortus
dentipes at 5% level of probability. The effect and damage by these two pests
was highly reduced in the intercrop while it was increased in the sole crop and
the cowpea mixtures. Jntercropping reduced the Megalurothrips sjostedti
population in the first season of the first year ut the reverse was the case in
the subsequent seasons. Result generally showed that pest abundance was more
during the long rains than the short rains. The yield of the cowpea was
significantly higher in the intercrop (IT89KD-391 inter row weighed 610 kg/ha,
while IT 86 D-719 inter row weighed 560.4kg/ha) However, it was low in the sole
crop (IT89KD -391weighed 420.8kg1ha and IT86D-719 weighed 402.kg/ha). Similar
result was also obtained in the second year. The two cowpea mixture supported
the highest level of pest population and damage among all the cropping
combinations.
EFURUMIBE, E (2021). Effect Of Cowpea-Turmeric Intercrop On Population Of Major insect Pests Of Cowpea ( Vigna Unguiculata). Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Nov 14, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effect-of-cowpea-turmeric-intercrop-on-population-of-major-insect-pests-of-cowpea-vigna-unguiculata-7-2
EZINNA, EFURUMIBE. "Effect Of Cowpea-Turmeric Intercrop On Population Of Major insect Pests Of Cowpea ( Vigna Unguiculata)" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 09 Nov. 2021, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effect-of-cowpea-turmeric-intercrop-on-population-of-major-insect-pests-of-cowpea-vigna-unguiculata-7-2. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
EZINNA, EFURUMIBE. "Effect Of Cowpea-Turmeric Intercrop On Population Of Major insect Pests Of Cowpea ( Vigna Unguiculata)". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 09 Nov. 2021. Web. 14 Nov. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effect-of-cowpea-turmeric-intercrop-on-population-of-major-insect-pests-of-cowpea-vigna-unguiculata-7-2 >.
EZINNA, EFURUMIBE. "Effect Of Cowpea-Turmeric Intercrop On Population Of Major insect Pests Of Cowpea ( Vigna Unguiculata)" Mouau.afribary.org (2021). Accessed 14 Nov. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/effect-of-cowpea-turmeric-intercrop-on-population-of-major-insect-pests-of-cowpea-vigna-unguiculata-7-2