Two field experiments were conducted during summer seasons 2020 and 2021 to investigate the effect of integrated three weed control treatments (zero, once and twice hoeing) and intercropped cowpea with maize at three planting distances (10, 15 and 20 cm), on weed control, yield of maize and economic evaluation. A strip-plot design with three replicates was used. The results showed that hand hoeing once and twice caused reduction in dry weight of total weeds, and increased weed control efficiency (WCE), yield and yield components of maize and fresh forage yield/fed of cowpea. Highest values were with hand hoeing twice. Interplanting cowpea at 10 and 15 cm, increased percentage of WCE and fresh forage yield/fed of cowpea, irrespective of hand hoeing treatments, the opposite trend was observed with maize traits. Cowpea planted at 10 cm or 15 cm with applying hand hoeing twice significantly decreased the dry weight of total weeds at 45 and 60 days after planting and improved forage yield ton/fed of cowpea. Sole planting of both crops had the highest yields/fed. Nonetheless, intercropping cowpea + hand hoeing twice had yield and yield components at par with those of sole maize. The highest mean value of LER (1.51 and 1.48) was obtained by growing cowpea at 15 cm and twice time of hoeing. Weed control in maize with applied hand hoeing twice and planted cowpea at 15 cm recorded the highest values of gross and net return. The lowest yield of maize was obtained with zero hoeing and 10 cm planting distance. It could be concluded that application hand hoeing with growing cowpea as a cover crop, at 15 cm planting distance was suggested for weed control, increased maize performance and net return for farmers, beside being eco-friendly. |
