Breeding Cowpea for Adaptation to Intercropping for Sustainable Intensification in the Guinea Savannas of Nigeria

Abstract

Cowpea is a multifaceted crop; however, considerable challenges affect the production of this crop despite its comparatively better adaptation to harsh environments. Most smallholder farmers in West Africa cultivate this crop in intercropping systems where its low plant population does not allow the full expression of the cultivars’ yield potential. This is because most varieties currently grown in intercrop have been developed in and for monocropping, although some breeding programs recently have focused on intercrop systems. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the performance of some newly developed cowpea breeding lines for adaptation to intercropping systems. Firstly, an on-station field experiment was conducted in 2018. The selected promising lines and a standard check were evaluated in three locations in an intercropping system and on-farm trials. Significant differences were observed among the cowpea genotypes for all the traits measured. Two improved lines, UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3, had superior grain and fodder yields under sole and intercropping systems and in different agroecological systems, revealing their adaptability. Based on our findings, UAM14-122-17-7 and UAM14-123-18-3 are recommended for a cereal-cowpea mixture because they are adapted to intercropping and produce high-grain yield under intercrop and sole-cropping systems.