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

Table 5. Partial budgeting between maize–pigeon pea intercrop and sole maize systems under four different fertilization
application rates averaged for the cropping seasons
Cropping system Maize–pigeon pea Sole maize
Fertilizer NF HR FR NF HR FR
Maize average yields (kg/ha) 3,165 3,426 5,198 3,174 4,891 4,828
Adjusted maize yield* 2,849 3,083 4,678 2,857 4,402 4,345
Gross benefit of maize (GH₵/ha) 28,485 30,834 46,782 28,566 44,019 43,452
Pigeon pea average yields (kg/ha) 250 250 250 - - -
Adjusted pigeon pea yield* 225 225 225 - - -
Gross benefit of pigeon pea (GH₵/ha) 1,575 1,575 1,575 - - -
Gross benefit of the cropping system 30,060 32,409 48,357 28,566 44,019 43,452
Cost of pigeon pea establishment (GH₵/ha) 800 800 800 - - -
Cost of harvesting pigeon pea (GH₵/ha) 400 400 400 - - -
Cost of pruning and spreading pigeon pea biomass (GH₵/ha) 400 400 400 - - -
Cost of chemical fertilizer (GH₵/ha) - 1,250 2,500 - 1,250 2,500
Labor cost for the application of fertilizer (GH₵/ha) - 400 700 - 900 1,000
Land clearing (GH₵/ha) 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000
Cost of maize seed (GH₵) 200 200 200 300 300 300
Labor cost of planting (₵/ha) 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,400 1,400 1,400
Cost of weeding (GH₵/ha) 1,500 1,500 1,500 2,200 2,200 2,200
Harvesting cost (GH₵/ha) 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,500 2,500 2,500
Total costs that vary 8,700 10,350 11,900 9,400 11,550 12,900
Total cost of the system 9,500 11,150 12,700 9,400 11,550 12,900
Net benefit 20,560 21,259 35,657 19,166 32,469 30,552
Benefit−cost/ratio 2.16 1.91 2.81 2.04 2.81 2.37
Note: Asterisk (*) represents 10% of maize average yield against inflation and price volatilities.
Abbreviations: FR: Full rate of recommended fertilizer; GH₵/: Ghana Cedi; HR: Half rate of recommended fertilizer; NF: No fertilizer.

and resilience challenges faced by smallholder farmers performance of intercropping systems under varying
in Ghana. The findings indicate that intercropping environmental conditions highlights their resilience,
systems are more productive and sustainable than making them well-suited for areas with erratic rainfall and
monocultures, as they efficiently utilize resources and poor soil fertility. 15
provide ecological benefits. 22,23 The inclusion of pigeon pea The high maize yields recorded during the major
biomass significantly enhanced soil nutrient availability season, likely due to increased rainfall, highlight the critical
and improved maize growth, yield components, and influence of environmental conditions on cropping system
total grain yield. These results support previous studies performance. While monoculture systems such as NPP
demonstrating that pigeon pea contributes to soil fertility demonstrated high productivity under optimal fertilizer
through nitrogen fixation and the incorporation of OM. 24,25 input, they exhibited limited resilience under nutrient
The study demonstrates that maize yields in constraints and seasonal variability. In contrast, the
intercropping systems are comparable to those in sole intercropping system maintained yield stability, suggesting
cropping under FR treatment and exceed them under that the ecological and functional complementarities
moderate (HR) and low fertilizer input (NF) conditions. between maize and pigeon peas contribute to enhanced
These findings support the idea that pigeon pea biomass system resilience. In addition, intercropping systems offer
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can supplement and partially replace inorganic fertilizers significant economic advantages. The reduced reliance
without compromising yields. 4,12,23 This finding is on chemical fertilizers lowered production costs, thereby
particularly relevant for smallholder farmers, who often enhancing profitability and accessibility for resource-
face challenges due to the high cost and limited availability constrained farmers. Pigeon pea grains also serve as
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of chemical fertilizers. 13,26 Furthermore, the strong a valuable dietary supplement for farm households,

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 11 doi: 10.36922/EER025130026