Effects of Cowpea-Baby Corn Intercropping on Growth, Phenology and Yield Characteristics of Cowpea

Abstract

The present field experiment was conducted during the summer seasons of 2022–23 and 2023–24 at U.B.K.V. Pundibari, West Bengal, to study the effects of cowpea–baby corn intercropping on growth, phenology and yield characteristics of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with nine treatments, including sole crops and intercropping systems with varying row proportions. The results of present experiment revealed that maximum vine length was recorded in the treatment sole cowpea (C2: 54.67 cm), followed by C6: Baby corn + Cowpea (1:4) (52.87 cm) and C5: Baby corn + Cowpea (1:3) (51.51 cm), while the minimum occurred in C9: Baby corn + Cowpea (4:1) (45.71 cm). The highest number of leaves per plant was in C4: Baby corn + Cowpea (1:2) (53.87), followed by C5 (50.97), with the lowest in C9 (42.17). Primary branches were maximum in C4 (6.77) and minimum in C9 (4.40). Leaf area index peaked in C4 (3.44) and was lowest in C9 (2.79). Phenological observations showed earliest flowering in C4 (44.83 days) and maximum days to flowering in C9 (48.83 days). The minimum days to first harvesting were recorded in C4 (54.83 days) and maximum in C9 (60.83 days). Pod yield per plant was highest in C5 (207.85 g) and lowest in C9 (113.80 g), while pod yield per plot was maximum in C2 (19.57 kg) and minimum in C9 (2.28 kg). The study concluded that cowpea-dominant intercropping ratios (1:2 and 1:3) improved growth, phenology and yield, whereas baby corn-dominant systems (3:1 and 4:1) suppressed cowpea performance.