2025/05/13 by Louis-Marie Raboin, Louis‐Marie Raboin, Nofou Ouédraogo +10
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Agricultural pest management studies #Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems #Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
paper · doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109984
openalex publication_date 2025/05/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Context Intercropping is a crop diversification strategy that enhances the sustainability of agricultural production systems by delivering a range of ecosystem services. It minimizes the risk of crop failure and increases land-use efficiency. However, limited knowledge exists about the varieties and traits that can enhance the performance of cereal/legume intercropping systems. Objective This study aims to explore the effect of sorghum genetic variability on intercropping performance and identify the genetic traits of sorghum that most influence the outcomes of intercropping. Method Thirty sorghum varieties, representing a broad range of diversity, were grown both in pure stands and as intercrops, with a single cowpea variety used as a tester. The experiment was conducted in 2020 and 2021 in Burkina Faso, using a split-plot design with three replications each year. Genotype rankings were established for both cropping systems, and genotype × cropping system interactions were evaluated. Results The total grain yield of the intercrop (sorghum + cowpea) was not significantly different from that of sorghum grown as a pure crop (2000 kg ha −1 and 2051 kg ha −1 , respectively). However, the intercrop produced more grain protein (290 kg ha −1 ) than the pure crop (217 kg ha −1 ). Significant genotypic variability was observed for most traits, with few instances of significant genotype × cropping system interactions. No significant effect of sorghum genotypes on cowpea grain yield was found, nor was there a negative correlation between cowpea and sorghum grain yields in the intercrop. In 2021, competition was observed through a negative correlation between cowpea grain yield and sorghum biomass, as well as a positive correlation with sorghum harvest index. However, this competition was not for light, but for water. Conclusions The choice of sorghum varieties for intercropping in our conditions depends mainly on the farmer's objectives regarding grain quality and production, avoiding varieties with high biomass and low harvest index. Further research should focus on the effect of cowpea genetic variability on the performance of sorghum-cowpea intercropping.