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Explora: Environment
and Resource Maize–pigeon pea intercropping in Ghana

A determine plot yield (kg). A total of 20 cobs from each plot
were shelled to measure fresh grain weight, and shelling
recovery was calculated as the ratio of fresh grain weight to
the total weight of the 20 cobs. Similarly, pigeon pea grain
yield was determined at physiological maturity by shelling
all pods from the harvest and recording the fresh grain
weight (kg). Grain moisture content for both maize and
pigeon peas was measured using a universal grain moisture
meter (INDOSAN S6010, Indosaw, India), and grain yields
were adjusted to a standardized moisture content of 15%,
with final yields expressed in tons/ha, as indicated in the
equations.

Adjusted mositure 100 Actual moisture content−
content (MC ) = 100 Desired moisture content
−
adj
B
(1)
Plot yield (kg) 1 0,000 m× − 2
Grain yield MC SR% × adj ×
( tons/ha at1 5% MC adj ) = 12 m 1 ,000×
−
2
(II)
To compare the productivity of monoculture and
MPP intercropping, the LER was employed, calculated as
follows:

YI YI
LER m P (III)
YS YS
m
P
Figure 2. Monthly weather parameters recorded in Fumesua in 2022 (A) Where:
and 2023 (B), including rainfall distribution, temperature trends, and • Y I is maize yield under intercropping (tons/ha),
m
relative humidity levels • Y S is maize yield under sole cropping (tons/ha),
m
• Y I is pigeon pea yield under intercropping (tons/ha),
density was 4,875 plants/ha. Similar to NPP, the two p
central maize rows were used for data collection and • Y S is pigeon pea yield under sole cropping (tons/ha).
p
adjacent rows for destructive sampling. An LER value greater than 1 indicates a yield advantage
(iii) Pigeon pea monoculture: Adjacent sole pigeon pea of intercropping over sole cropping, while a value <1
plots were established to calculate land equivalent indicates a disadvantage. 19,20
ratios [LERs]. Pigeon pea was planted at 1 m × 0.5 m
spacing, resulting in a population of 40,000 plants/ha. 2.3. Data collection and statistical analysis
Planted in 2022, pigeon pea was managed as a perennial Data on the growth, biomass, and grain yields of maize
crop, while maize was grown during the major and and pigeon peas were analyzed using a three-way analysis
minor seasons of 2023. Fresh pigeon pea biomass of of variance (cropping system × fertilizer × experimental
2,210 and 1,620 kg/ha was evenly incorporated into season) with type III error at a 5% significance level
the soil in intercrop plots during the major and minor (p<0.05). Analyses were performed using Jeffreys’s
seasons of 2023, respectively. Amazing Statistics Program (version 0.19.1.0, University
(iv) Fertilizer application: 15-15-15 N-P O -K O fertilizer of Amsterdam, Netherlands), available at https://jasp-stats.
5
2
2
was applied 2 weeks after planting, followed by SoA at org. Before analysis, the homogeneity of variances was
21
6 – 8 weeks. 4 verified using the Shapiro–Wilk and Levene’s tests. When
significant differences were observed among treatment
2.2.1. Measurements and determination of LER means, Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference test was
Maize was harvested at physiological maturity, and all employed for mean separation, with groupings indicated
cobs from the designated harvest area were weighed to using letter annotations.
Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/EER025130026