Effect of Intercropping Sesame (Sesamum indicum) with Green Gram (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) on Crop Phonology and Yield in Humera, Western Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Cropping system in the study area is by far dominated by sesame sole cropping, which resulted in low productivity, pest prevalence, poor soil fertility and yield. A study was conducted to evaluate the productivity of sesame varieties intercropped with green gram in factorial arrangement at kafta-humera during 2017/18 cropping season. Two factorial experiment namely, (i) cropping system at two levels (sole and intercropping), (ii) two sesame varieties (setit1 and local) and was conducted in randomized complete block design replicated three times. The results showed that yield of sesame and green gram were affected considerably by cropping system. Highest and significant grain yields of both sesame varieties were recorded in the pure stands (6.70 qt/ha and 5.30 qt/ha for setit1 and local) respectively. On the contrary, lowest yield was obtained (4.3 q/ha and 5 q/ha) under intercropped local and setit1 respectively. Moreover, sole green gram gained a significant higher seed yield (13.2 qt/ha) over intercropped greengram with local (5.1 qt/ha) and intercropped greengram with setit1 (4.7 qt/ha) treatments.