THE YIELD AND FARMER’S ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE OF MAIZE - PIGEON PEA INTERCROP AS AFFECTED BY THE APPLICATION OF ORGANIC BASE FERTILIZER

Abstract

In this study, a three years experiment was conducted to evaluate the yield and relative economic advantage of maize-pigeon pea intercrop as affected by mycorrhiza and organomineral fertilizer in the rainforest zones of Nigeria. The experimental design was a 2x2x3 factorial in a randomized complete block design using a split plot. The Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Relative Value Total and Replacement Value of Intercrops were used to evaluate the yield data. Data collected were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p = 0.05. However, the application of organomineral fertilizer and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has significantly (p<0.05) increased the growth and yield of both crops in sole and intercrop. Thus, the inoculation of mycorrhiza has increased the grain yield of maize and pigeon pea by 33% and 56 % respectively. Also, the application of organomineral fertilizer has increased the yield of maize and pigeon pea by 60 % and 52 % respectively. Similarly, the combined application of organomineral fertilizer with mycorrhiza has increased the yield of maize and pigeon pea by 86% and 56 % respectively. The practice of intercropping farming system had higher Land Equivalent Ratio, Relative Value Total and Replacement Value Intercrop. The study further revealed that the inoculation of mycorrhiza significantly (p < 0.05) increased the profit of farmers as its Replacement Value of Intercrops of the treatment with mycorrhiza was 3.27. Thus, mycorrhizal inoculation and these farming practice is recommended to enhance farmer’s economic return and grain production for tropical farmers.