Effect of Weed Management on the Growth and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) Intercropped With Maize (Zea mays L) in Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The problem of weeds in an agro-ecosystem is enormous; causing yield losses in crops and great financial demands controlling them with manual labour and/ or herbicides, hence the trial of a low cost cultural approach. Field trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to evaluate the effect of weed management void of bioterrorism and environmental disturbances on the growth and yield of cucumber and maize in Abakaliki, located at latitude 06o 19’ 407” N, longitude 08o 7’ 831’E, at an altitude of 447m above sea level, with annual rainfall of 1700mm-2060mm, spread mainly between April and October. The experiment was a 3x2 factorial in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), in four replications. Results showed that fruit number per plant (15.5/plot) and fruit weight per fruit (0.38kg/fruit), were significantly (P=0.05) higher where sole cucumber was not weeded (13.5/plot and 0.32kg/fruit) than where sole cucumber was weeded. However, intercropping cucumber with maize did not significantly improve the growth characteristics of either cucumber or maize irrespective of whether weeded or un-weeded. On the other hand, un-de-husked and de-husked cob weights of maize were higher where sole maize was weeded (39g and 29g) and where it was intercropped with cucumber and weeded (28g and 21g) than where it was planted sole and weeded (26g and 20g) and where it was intercropped with cucumber un-weeded (23g and 19g). The suppressing effect of cucumber on weeds was not impressively demonstrated on maize yield. However, more income was realized from the sale of cucumber fruits from the un-weeded plots which showed that weeds did not affect its yield. On the other hand, less fruit yield was recorded from the weeded plots of cucumber showing weeding may not be required in cucumber plots after a certain growth stage.