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

number under FR fertilizer treatment in the minor season than one indicate higher combined yields in intercropping
(126 cobs), while NF treatment yielded the lowest counts compared to sole cropping, this finding highlights a more
(Table 3). In comparison, the NPP system produced the efficient use of land resources. The increased combined
highest cob number (206 cobs) under FR treatment during yield suggests enhanced resource utilization, where maize
the minor season, indicating that reduced competition and pigeon peas benefit from shared resources, such as
in sole cropping enhances reproductive development light, water, and nutrients. This synergy contributes to
under optimal nutrient conditions. Cob weight followed increased overall productivity in the intercropping system.
this pattern, with the NPP system under FR treatment In addition, the complementary growth patterns
in the minor season achieving the highest cob weight of maize and pigeon peas in the intercropping system
(22,279.6 g), underscoring the NPP system’s ability to may contribute to the observed yield advantage. Pigeon
maximize biomass production under high nutrient input pea, being taller, can provide partial shade during the
(Table 3).
early stages of maize growth, which helps suppress weed
3.3.2. Hundred-seed weight growth and supports soil moisture conservation. In
addition, as a leguminous plant, pigeon pea also enhances
Hundred-seed weight was generally higher in the NPP soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, thereby
system under FR treatment, with the highest value recorded benefiting maize development. The higher LER value
during the major season (37.3 g, Table 3). FR treatment also suggests that intercropping can offer improved economic
resulted in competitive seed weights in the MPP system, returns for farmers by increasing yield per unit area,
although these were slightly lower than those observed thereby enhancing overall profitability. This system also
in NPP. Under NF treatment, seed weights were notably supports environmental sustainability through increased
reduced, particularly in the MPP system, suggesting that biodiversity, reduced dependency on chemical inputs, and
nutrient competition between maize and pigeon pea limits improved soil health. Overall, an LER of 1.23 indicates
grain filling and reduces seed size. a 23% advantage of intercropping maize and pigeon

3.3.3. Total grain yield peas over sole cropping in terms of land-use efficiency,
complementary resource utilization, economic benefits,
Grain yield reflects the combined effects of cob development and environmental sustainability.
and seed weight. In the MPP system, the highest grain yield
was recorded during the major season under FR treatment 3.5. Soil physicochemical properties at the Fumesua
(6.47 tons/ha), slightly exceeding that of the NPP system study site
under the same conditions (5.82 tons/ha, Table 3). This Table 4 shows the physicochemical properties of soil at the
suggests that intercropping under high nutrient availability Fumesua study site analyzed at the initial stage in 2022 and
can match or even surpass sole cropping in productivity after 2 years of cropping under different treatments: pigeon
due to complementary interactions between crops. pea alley cropping and NPP cropping. The results showed
However, under NF treatment, grain yield in the MPP distinct variations in soil properties across depths and
system (3.85 tons/ha in the major season) was lower than treatments. At the initial stage, the topsoil (0 – 20 cm) had a
in NPP (4.35 tons/ha), highlighting the greater impact of pH of 6.50, indicating slightly acidic conditions, with 0.26%
resource competition in the absence of fertilizer (Table 3).
nitrogen (N) and 49.15 mg/kg phosphorus (P). Potassium
3.4. LER (K) measured 0.21 cmol (+)/kg, while magnesium (Mg)
and calcium (Ca) measured 0.69 cmol (+)/kg and 1.35 cmol
The LER was calculated using Equation III to evaluate the (+)/kg, respectively. Organic carbon (OC) accounted for
productivity benefits of intercropping maize and pigeon 1.11%, and organic matter (OM) comprised 1.98%. The
pea compared to their sole cropping systems: soil texture was loamy sand, consisting of 82.10% sand,
• Y I: maize yield under intercropping (tons/ha) = 3.93 8.89% clay, and 9.01% silt. At a depth of 20 – 40 cm, the
m
• Y S: maize yield under sole cropping (tons/ha) = 4.30 soil pH decreased to 6.02, accompanied by a decline in N
m
• Y I: pigeon pea yield under intercropping (tons/ha) = 0.25 (0.13%) and P (33.04 mg/kg). The texture at this depth was
p
• Y S: pigeon pea yield under sole cropping (tons/ha) = 0.79 sandy loam, with a slightly lower sand content (73.43 %)
p
YI YI 393 025 and higher clay (10.88 %) and silt (15.69%) contents.
.
.
LER m P 123
.
.
YS YS 430 079 In addition, soil properties in the pigeon pea alley
.
m
P
cropping after 2 years showed that the 0 – 20 cm layer
An LER value of 1.23 indicates a productivity advantage exhibits increased N (0.39%) and P (48.42 mg/kg) levels
for the intercropping system. Since LER values greater compared to the initial stage. Both Ca and Mg levels
Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 9 doi: 10.36922/EER025130026