Soil Water Conservation Methods Affected Growth of Sorghum Intercropped with Cowpea in Different Locations of Western Sudan

Place and Duration of Study: Farmers practice different cropping systems with different cultural practice to increase productivity and sustainability. Field experiments were conducted in two locations (Elfoula and Babanousa), Western Kordofan (Sudan), seasons 2011/ 2012 and 2012/ 2013.

Aim: To determine the effect of soil water conservations methods on vegetative growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unguicualata (L.) Walp).

Study Design: The experimental design was split plot with three replications.

Methodology: The main plots were assigned for four soil conservation methods namely; Geria (main local method of plough used) (L1) and Geria with terrace (L2), animal plough (L3) and animal plough with terrace (L4). The sub plots was four sowing methods as follows: Sorghum mono crop (S1), Sorghum intercrop (S2), Cowpea intercrop (C1), Cowpea mono crop (C2). The parameters taken was plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index and dry weight for three 30, 45 and 60 days from sowing dates.

Results: Generally, the soil preparation with animal traction and terrace (L4) and sorghum mono crop and their interaction showed the highest plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, and dry weight products followed with soil prepared with Geria and terrace for two locations and two seasons.