Assessment of Growth Parameters of Sesame and Cowpea Varieties under Intercropping System in the Sudan Savanna Region of Nigeria

Abstract

A field study was conducted during the 2024 rainy season at two locations in the Sudan Savanna of Nigeria to evaluate the growth performance of sesame and cowpea varieties under intercropping systems. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Four sesame varieties (530-6-1, TYPE-4, EX-SUDAN, KENENA 4) and four cowpea varieties (FUAMPEA 1, FUAMPEA 4, SAMPEA 14, SAMPEA 20-T) were used. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, and crop growth rate were evaluated at 3, 6, and 9 weeks after sowing (WAS). Results indicated that sesame variety had a significant (p<0.05) main effect on all measured growth parameters. Variety 530-6-1 consistently indicated highest performance, achieving the greatest plant height (155.76 cm) and the highest crop growth rate (13.83 g/week) at 9 WAS. TYPE 4 exhibited the highest number of branches (14.85). The cowpea variety also shows a significant effect, with FUAMPEA 1 often associated with the tallest sesame plants. The interaction between sesame and cowpea varieties was largely non-significant for most parameters. For cowpea, FUAMPEA 1 consistently produced taller plants with more leaves, while SAMPEA 20-T showed a higher number of branches. The study concludes that the choice of variety is a primary determinant of growth in this intercropping system, with sesame 530-6-1 and cowpea FUAMPEA 1 identified as the most vigorous varieties. The lack of consistent significant interaction simplifies recommendations for farmers, as these varieties perform vigorous with a range of intercropping partners.