Authors : A.A. Makinde, N.J. Bello, F.O. Olasantan, M.A. Adebisi and H.A. Adeniyi
Abstract: Seasonality and crop combination effects performance of two sorghum cultivars in sorghum/maize/okra intercrop in a forest-savanna transition zone of Nigeria was investigated. Total 5 phenological stages of sorghum formed the basic unit of time for the investigation. During these phenological stages, agroclimatological indices were measured daily and processed into 10 days averages likewise selected agronomic parameters of the components crops were taken. The plants were intercropped in simple Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) fitted into split plot arrangements with three replicates in two field trials. The results showed that the season 2010 crops had relatively longer growth duration, received more rainfall than season 2009 (692 vs. 487.2 mm) while 2009 experienced warmer temperature during establishment cum early vegetative stage than 2010 season (33.2 vs. 32°C) and (28.5 vs. 27°C) during the reproductive phase for season 2009 and 2010, respectively. The mean grain yields of sorghum cultivars were significantly higher in the season 2009 especially in okra combination than in the season 2010. Perhaps, this was due to higher mean soil temperature of 28 and 26°C at 5 and 20 cm in 2009 season compared with season 2010 when mean soil temperature was 27 and 25°C at 5 and 20 cm, respectively.
A.A. Makinde, N.J. Bello, F.O. Olasantan, M.A. Adebisi and H.A. Adeniyi, 2011. Seasonality and Crop Combination Effects on Growth and Yield of Two Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Cultivars in Sorghum/Maize/Okra Intercropin a Forest-Savanna Transition Zone of Nigeria. Agricultural Journal, 6: 92-99.