Assessing the land equivalent ratio (LER) and stability of yield of two cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL. Moench)-Soyabean (Glycine max L. Merr) to Row intercropping system

Abstract

Field trials were conducted in the Institute for Agricultural  Research (IAR) farm, Samaru, Zaria during the 2008, 2009 and 2010 rainy seasons to study the performance of sorghum/soyabean intercrop as influenced by cultivar and row arrangement. The treatments consisted of two sorghum cultivars – SAMSORG-14 and SAMSORG-17, two soyabean cultivars- TGx 1448-2E and SAMSOY 2, four crop row arrangements (1:1, 1:2, 2:1 and 2:2 Sorghum : Soyabean) in factorial combinations. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design. The most stable treatment combination in the trial was SAMSORG-17 intercropped with TGx 1448-2E in 1SG:1SY row arrangement (1.01).  All but one intercrop had LER values above unity, thus suggesting a considerable benefit for intercropping sorghum with soyabean.Among the treatment combinations, SAMSORG-17 intercropped with TGx 1448-2E in 1SG:1SY row arrangement produced the highest LER value of 1.40.

Key words: LER, cultivar, crop stability