Abstract

One field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm in the Agricultural Research of Alkod Station (Delta Abyan) in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons to study the effect of different plant densities, intercropping patterns and their interaction on some growth characters, yield and yield components of maize and cowpea. Four plant densities were used (56000, 67000, 83000 and 111000 plant/ hectar) and three intercropping patterns (1:1, 2:1 and 3:3) were used for maize and cowpea respectively, in addition to sole cropping treatment. Most of the characters under study were significantly affected by plant densities and intercropping patterns as well as their interaction. Yields of maize and cowpea were significantly increased as a result of the increasing plant density, but significantly decreased under intercropping patterns. The combined LER of both maize and cowpea exceeded one at all combinations of intercropping patterns and plant densities and that LER value of 3:3 pattern with 111000 plant/ hectar was the highest one. This treatment could be recommended when intercropping cowpea with maize.