Growth characteristics of Bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea) and Nerica rice (Oryza sativa) under intercrop system.

Abstract

Intercropping offers advantage if well planned including improved soil fertility and yields. Bambara groundnuts have been shown to yield in low fertility soils and have been described as a complete food. Nerica rice has been reported to offer higher yields and shorter growing seasons. Cropping systems that combine both these crops in production systems will help alleviate malnutrition and food insecurity in many developing countries. Understanding the growth characteristics of the these two crop species is essential for optimization of their productivity. Therefore the main objective of this experiment was to evaluate the growth characteristics of bambara groundnuts and NERICA rice under sole and intercrop systems. Greenhouse experiments was set up involving root zone partitioning to allow the roots of the two crops grow separately and unpartitioning which allowed the roots of the two crops to intermingle and interest. Growth attributes including growth rates, relative leaf growth rates, specific leaf area and leaf weight ratio were evaluated. The curve fitting method in which polynomial functions were fitted to normal logarithmic values of total dry weight and total leaf area using the functional approach. The two crop species showed varied growth responses under sole and intercropping systems. The differential growth characteristics in the two crop species are essential for resource utilization in different niches both below and above ground.