Interaction of three tillage systems on the growth and yield of corn and cowpea as intercrop

A study on the interaction of Tillage System aim of determining the yield potential of corn and cowpea under intercropping schemes planted in three tillage systems. Specifically, it aimed to a) assess the effect of tillage system on the growth and yield of corn and cowpea, b) effect of intercropping schemes on the yield component of cowpea, c) study the interaction effects between tillage system and intercropping schemes on the growth and yield of corn and cowpea. The split-plot design with three replications consisting of three main treatments and six treatments were used in the study which were as follows: Main Treatment 1-Zero Tillage, Main Treatment 2- monoculture cowpea, Treatment 3- 1 row corn + two rows cowpea; Treament 4- one row corn + 3 rows cowpea; Treatment 5, two rows corn + 1 row cowpea, and Treatment 6- two rows corn + two rows cowpea. Significant interaction effects existed between tillage and intercropping schemes in terms of harvest index of corn and cowpea as monocrop performed better than intercropping under zero and conventional tillage compared to intercropping schemes. Intercropping increased land productivity where in the combination of corn and cowpea produces LER greater than one. The highest net return was obtained from one row of Php 46,322.00 and ROI of 2.14 (corn) under zero tillage. In cowpea production, the highest net income of Php 35,150.00 was produced by monoculture cowpea under conventional tillage, but in terms of monetary return per peso, invested the zero tillage (sole cowpea) was higher with ROI of Php 1.49. Results recommended the practice of zero tillage in cowpea production since higher net return peso invested was obtained. However, practice of zero tillage is a risky endeavor due to unpredictable environmental conditions.