Comparative Effects of Intercropping Melon Cowpea and sweet potato with maize in South Western Nigeria

Melon, Cowpea and Sweet potato densities of 10,000, 25,000 and 25,000 plants/ha respectively were intercropped with maize planted at 40,000 plants/ha for two consecutive seasons at the university of Ibadan, Teaching and Research Farm. Weed cover was significantly decreased on intercropped plots with maize/melon inter crop having the least weed infestation. Maize growth was not significantly influenced by intercropping maize with melon cowpea and sweet potato. A significantly higher field was observed for maize in maize/melon intercrop cover maize in maize sweetpotato intercrop. The land equivalent rations for the intercrop with melon, cowpea and sweet potato were 1.47, 1.52 and 1.44 respectively. These results indicate that intercropping maize with melon cowpea and sweet potato is very productive especially for weed suppression, cash advantage and continuous soil coverage.