Size and shape of plots in experiments with sole and intercropped cowpea and maize crops

Abstract

A uniformity field trial was carried out with intercropped and sole cropping of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) and maize. The soil of the experimental area was Allic latosolic Red-Yellow Podzolic with moderate A and medium texture. The main objective of the trial was to estimate the optimum plot size and shape for these two crops in intercropping. The soil variability indexes were 0,536, 0,554, 0,623 and 0,596, respectively, for cowpea intercropped and in sole cropping, and for maize intercropped and sole cropping. The plot size, length and width influenced independently the variance of any cropping system. The optimum plot size is valid simultaneously for the two crops in intercropping.