Productivity and Photosynthetic Indices of Intercropping Schemes Using Corn and Cowpea Planted in Three Tillage Systems.

The study was conducted at Carulay Echague, Isabela Philippines during dry season with the aim of determining the yield potential of corn and cowpea under intercropping schemes planted in three tillage systems. Specifically it aimed to a) determine the effects of tillage system on the growth and yield of corn and cowpea; b) evaluate the effects of intercropping schemes on yield components of cowpea, c) study the interaction effects between tillage system and intercropping schemes on the growth and yield of corn and cowpea; d) assess the effects of photosynthetic efficiency on tillage system, intercropping schemes of both crops; and e) identify which tillage system and intercropping schemes would be more profitable.

 

 Results revealed that the height of cowpea and corn, the number of cowpea pods per plant, the weight of dry cowpea and straw yield per plant, the height of 1,000 dry cowpea seeds, the weight of dry cowpea and corn grain yield per plant and the percent harvest index of the test crops were significantly affected by intercropping schemes.

 

 Significant interaction effects existed between tillage and intercropping schemes in terms of percent harvest index of corn. Cowpea as monocrop performed better than intercropping schemes in terms of pod number per plant, dry weight in 1000 seeds, weight of dry grain yield per plant per harvest index. Intercropping increased land productivity where the combination of corn and cowpea produced an LER greater than one.

 

 The highest net return was obtained from one row corn plus two rows cowpea with a net income of PhP 46,322.00 and an ROI of 2.14 (corn) under zero tillage. In cowpea production, the highest net income of PhP 35,150.00 was produced by monoculture cowpea under conventional tillage, but in terms of monetary return per peso invested, the zero tillage sole crops was higher with an ROI of PhP 1.49. No significant effects were observed on the protein and carbohydrates contents of corn and cowpea grains as influenced by intercropping and tillage system. Increase in agricultural productivity is essential to economic development. It requires improvement in cropping system that might lead to a shifting from one crop to multiple crops.

 

 The results recommend the practice of zero tillage in cowpea production since higher net return per peso invested was obtained. However, practice of zero tillage is a risky endeavour due to unpredictable environmental conditions.

 

 Keywords: monocropping, intercropping, productivity photosynthetic, tillage systems