Evaluation of Pigeonpea Genotypes for Intercropping with Maize and Sorghum in Southern Guinea Savanna: Economic Benefits

The economics of production and profitability of intercropped pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp] genotypes with maize [Zea mays L.] and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were studied in two separate field experiments in 2007 and 2008. Each experiment was a 2 x 15 factorial set out in split plot design in three replications with the main objective of evaluating the economic potentials of recently introduced pigeonpea genotypes from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) with a view to increasing and diversifying household income in Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Though it depressed pigeonpea grain yields, intercropping consistently gave higher net benefits than sole cropping in the pigeonpea/maize systems. ICPL 87 gave the highest net benefits in both pigeonpea/maize and pigeonpea/sorghum intercropping systems (N200, 082.00/ha and N110, 399.00/ha respectively). It also produced the highest marginal rate of returns and returns per naira investment in the pigeonpea/maize systems. Sole pigeonpea was more remunerative than many intercropped pigeonpea with sorghum. Most of the new varieties proved superior to the Farmer’s variety in both cropping systems, with consequent higher profitability. This implies potential increase in household incomes and alternative farm enterprise with the adoption of any of these new varieties in the intercropping systems studied.