Growth Potential of Maize Intercropped with Legume Under Three Weed Control Methods in Southwestern, Nigeria

The effects of intercropping maize with legumes and weed control methods were assessed on the following growth variables: vigour score, plant height and leaf area. The main treatments consisted of six intercrops of maize with groundnut and mucuna planted in different patterns: maize with groundnut planted within rows, maize with groundnut planted between rows, and maize with groundnut planted within and between rows combined; maize with mucuna planted within rows, maize with mucuna planted between rows and maize with mucuna planted within and between rows combined plus sole maize while the sub-plot treatments consisted of weed control methods viz: Commercial formulated mixture of metolachlor and prometryne (Codal 412) E.C. at 1.6 kg a.i/ha followed by supplementary hoe weeding at 6 WAP, Codal at 2.4 kg a.i/ha alone and two hoe-weeding` at 3 and 6 WAP compared with the weedy check, where the weeds were left on the plots throughout the life cycle of the maize. Treatments were laid out in a split plot in randomized complete block design with three replications. The higher vigour score, plant height and leaf area of maize obtained from the plots under the three weed control methods compared with the weedy check as well as from the various maize-groundnut intercrops. Intercropping maize with groundnut especially between rows with the application of Codal at 1.6 kg a.i/ha fb SHW at 6 WAP provided a sustainable agricultural system that suppressed weed infestation, improve maize productivity, conserved and replenished soil nutrients.