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Frontiers of Agriculture in China

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CN 11-5729/S

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Front Agric Chin    2011, Vol. 5 Issue (4) : 543-551    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11703-011-1147-6
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effect of intercropping, Bradyrhizobium inoculation and N, P fertilizers on yields, physical and chemical quality of cowpea seeds
Ekhlas M. MUSA1, Elsiddig A. E. ELSHEIKH1, Isam A. MOHAMED AHMED2,3, Elfadil E. BABIKER2()
1. Department of Soil Sciences & Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat 14413, Sudan; 2. Department of Food Science & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat 14413, Sudan; 3. Department of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori 680-8553, Japan
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Abstract

The present study was aimed to determine the effects of inoculation with Bradyrhizobium strain, intercropping, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization and their interaction on the yield, physical and chemical properties of cowpea seeds. The results showed that the seed yield of cowpea was significantly (P≤0.05) increased by Bradyrhizobium inoculation, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, but not by intercropping. All treatments of intercropping, P, Bradyrhizobium plus N and Bradyrhizobium plus P treatments significantly (P≤0.05) increased the hydration coefficient and cookability of cowpea seeds compared to untreated plants in both seasons. For chemical composition, all treatments significantly (P≤0.05) increased the dry matter, ash, protein and fiber content of the seeds compared to the untreated plants for the two systems and in both seasons, whereas it significantly (P≤0.05) decreased carbohydrate content of the seeds. Fat content of the seeds was not increased by Bradyrhizobium inoculation and intercropping, but it was significantly increased by nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization. Intercropping, Bradyrhizobium inoculation and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization significantly (P≤0.05) increased tannin content and in vitro protein digestibility of the seeds compared to untreated plants for both systems and in the two seasons.
Keywords Bradyrhizobium inoculation      chemical composition      cowpea      intercropping      fertilization     
Corresponding Author(s): BABIKER Elfadil E.,Email:elfadibabiker@yahoo.com   
Issue Date: 05 December 2011
 Cite this article:   
Ekhlas M. MUSA,Elsiddig A. E. ELSHEIKH,Isam A. MOHAMED AHMED, et al. Effect of intercropping, Bradyrhizobium inoculation and N, P fertilizers on yields, physical and chemical quality of cowpea seeds[J]. Front Agric Chin, 2011, 5(4): 543-551.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fag/EN/10.1007/s11703-011-1147-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fag/EN/Y2011/V5/I4/543
ParametersValue
Depth (cm)0-30
Sand (%)11.5
Silt (%)19.6
Clay (%)68.9
pH (paste)8.1
EC (ds/m)0.4
Total N (%)0.056
Organic carbon (%)0.52
Available P (mg/kg soil)4.3
CaCO3 (%)2.0
SO42-(meq/L)0-7
NO3--(meq/L)0-5
Tab.1  Physiochemical characteristic of the soil in the experimental site
TreatmentsYield (kg/hm2)
1st season2nd season
Monocropping system
Control334.89 b344.26 d
20 k /hm-2 of N367.93 ab400.28 bc
50 kg/hm-2 of P406.17 a426.70 ab
TAL 169383.31 a384.06 c
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm-2 of N402.23 a407.91 b
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm-2 of P418.17 a435.82 a
Intercropping system
Control302.37 c310.49 c
20 kg/hm2 of N337.00 bc397.39 a
50 kg/hm2 of P383.97 ab406.33 a
TAL 169371.27 b353.39 b
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm-2 of N389.50 ab401.52 a
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm-2 of P415.11 a417.57 a
Tab.2  Effect of inoculation, N, P and intercropping (sorghum/ cowpea) on yields of rain fed cowpea (kg/hm) growing for two consecutive seasons
TreatmentsHydration coefficientCookability100-seed weight
1st season2nd season1st season2nd season1st season2nd season
Monocropping system
Control205.43 c207.00 b10.09 c12.08 a18.22 d16.88 c
20 kg/hm-2 of N208.38 b210.54 ab11.64 bc12.30 a20.27 c18.74 ab
50 kg/hm-2 of P208.97 ab212.97 a11.29 bc12.22 a20.88 bc18.88 ab
TAL 169208.06 bc208.39 ab10.99 c12.25 a21.54 ab18.54 ab
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm-2 of N209.53 ab213.63 a12.64 ab14.33 a22.56 a19.56 a
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm-2 of P210.07 ab213.73 a12.27 b14.18 a22.81 a19.81 a
Intercropping system
Control210.43 ab211.93 ab12.33 ab13.65 a20.06 d18.23 b
20 kg/hm-2 of N213.16 ab214.49 a13.64 abc13.92 a20.78 bc18.88 bc
50 kg/hm-2 of P212.54 ab214.21 a13.70 abc14.13 a21.14 bc18.97 bc
TAL 169212.65 ab212.83 ab14.95 a13.88 a20.81 bc18.88 bc
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm-2 of N214.82 a215.15 a14.86 a14.32 a21.51 b19.23 c
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm-2 of P215.03 a216.28 a14.74 ab14.40 a21.52 ab19.20 a
Tab.3  Effect of inoculation, N, P and intercropping (sorghum/cowpea) on hydration coefficient and cookability (%) of rain fed cowpea seeds growing for two consecutive seasons
TreatmentsDry matterAsh
1st season2nd season1st season2nd season
Monocropping system
Control92.00 ab7.87 d3.08 b3.08 c
20 kg/hm2 of N91.63 bc8.75 b3.97 a3.35 c
50 kg/hm2 of P91.25 c8.67 b3.98 a3.58 b
TAL 16991.67 b8.25 c3.73 a3.52 b
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N91.17 c9.18 a4.03 a3.87 a
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm2 of P91.25 c9.30 a4.08 a3.87 a
Intercropping system
Control92.17 a8.47 b4.07 b3.57 c
20 kg/hm2 of N91.25 c9.00 a4.40 b4.10 b
50 kg/hm2 of P91.17 c9.08 a4.47 a4.07 b
TAL 16991.17 c8.53 b4.55 a4.12 b
TAL 169+ 20 kg N/hm2 of N91.25 c9.33 a4.62 a4.38 b
TAL 169+ 50 kg P/hm2 of P91.17 c9.33 a4.68 a4.42 a
Tab.4  Effect of inoculation, N, P and intercropping (sorghum/cowpea) on dry matter and ash contents (%) of rain fed cowpea seeds growing for two consecutive seasons
TreatmentsFatFiber
1st season2nd season1st season2nd season
Monocropping system
Control1.95 ab1.67 d4.18 ab4.08 d
20 kg/hm2 of N2.17 a2.06 ab4.43 abc4.87 c
50 kg/hm2 of P2.17 a2.00 abcd4.30 ab5.02 abcd
TAL 1691.56 c1.67 d4.12 d4.98 bcd
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N2.11 a2.00 abcd4.50 abc5.18 abcd
TAL 169+ 50 kg P/hm2 of P2.06 a2.22 a4.67 ab5.43 a
Intercropping system
Control1.72 bc1.78 cd4.32 abc4.90 cd
20 kg/hm2 of N1.89 abc2.17 a4.82 a5.23 abc
50 kg/hm2 of P2.11 a2.22 a4.88 a5.30 ab
TAL 1691.84 abc1.72 cd4.75 ab4.33 e
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N2.11 a2.11 ab4.93 a5.33 ab
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm2 of P2.17 a2.22 a4.98 a5.30 ab
Tab.5  Effect of inoculation, N, P, Intercropping (sorghum/cowpea) on fat and fiber contents (%) of rain fed cowpea seeds growing for two consecutive seasons
TreatmentsProteinCarbohydrates
1st season2nd season1st season2nd season
Monocropping system
Control26.17 d24.86 f56.62 a58.44 a
20 kg/hm2 of N27.33 c26.77 cd53.69 b54.21 bc
50 kg/hm2 of P28.21 abc26.66 cd52.59 bc54.02 bc
TAL 16927.44 c26.69 cd52.99 bc54.89 bc
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N28.16 bc28.20 ab52.36 c51.57 d
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm2 of P29.26 ab29.33 a51.19 cd49.85 de
Intercropping system
Control28.03 c26.39 f54.03 a55.50 a
20 kg/hm2 of N29.70 ab27.90 abc50.60 bc51.60 bc
50 kg/hm2 of P29.95 ab29.87 a49.46 c49.46 d
TAL 16929.66 ab27.49 bcd50.36 b53.70 b
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N31.98 a28.47 ab47.61 c50.87 cd
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm2 of P32.64 a27.92 abc46.70 c50.81 cd
Tab.6  Effect of inoculation, N, P and intercropping (sorghum/cowpea) on protein and carbohydrates contents (%) of rain fed cowpea seeds growing for two consecutive seasons
TreatmentsTanninProtein digestibility
1st season2nd season1st season2nd season
Monocropping system
Control1.28 e1.37 c66.67 f67.84 d
20 kg/hm2 of N1.38 bcde1.45 bc79.64 ab80.64 ab
50 kg/hm2 of P1.35 de1.45 bc76.66 cd80.78 ab
TAL 1691.32 e1.40 b79.47 a78.78 b
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N1.47 abc1.57 ab73.13 cd76.57 c
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm2 of P1.45 abcd1.53 ab72.01 e81.73 a
Intercropping system
Control1.37 cde1.42 bc69.70 g72.20 g
20 kg/hm2 of N1.50 a1.58 ab77.31 c84.16 b
50 kg/hm2 of P1.48 bc1.57 ab75.18 d87.92 a
TAL 1691.47 abc1.52 b71.26 fg81.82 bc
TAL 169+ 20 kg/hm2 of N1.52 a1.60 ab79.61 ab85.84 ab
TAL 169+ 50 kg/hm2 of P1.53 a1.62 a81.48 a86.25 ab
Tab.7  Effect of inoculation, N, P and intercropping (sorghum/cowpea) on tannin content and protein digestibility (%) of rain fed cowpea seeds growing for two consecutive seasons
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