PRODUCTIVITY OF FINGER MILLET (Eleusine coracana L.) GAERTN AND GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogaea L.) INTERCROP AS INFLUENCED BY RABBIT MANURE AND ROW ARRANGEMENT IN SUDAN SAVANNA ECOLOGY, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of rabbit manure (RM) and row arrangement (RA) on the growth and yield of finger millet-groundnut intercrops at two locations in Kano State, Nigeria, during the 2019 rainy season. Field trials employed a split-plot design with six row arrangements (1:1, 1:2, 2:1, 2:2, 2:4 as main plot, and alternate stand) and four RM levels (0, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 t ha^-1) plus NPK fertilizer as sub plot. Soil analysis revealed sandy loam textures with low organic carbon and nitrogen at both sites, with Dawakin Kudu (DWK) exhibiting higher fertility than BUK. Results indicated that RM significantly influenced finger millet straw weight, 1000 seed weight, and grain yield, particularly at DWK, with higher RM rates and NPK enhancing these parameters. Groundnut canopy height, leaf area, and leaf area index were also significantly impacted by RM, with NPK and 2.5 t ha^-1 RM showing the most significant increases. Row arrangement did not significantly affect yields of either crop, though interactions between RM and RA significantly impacted groundnut canopy height and chlorophyll content at DWK. Intercropping indices, including Land Equivalent Ratio (LER), Area Time Equivalent Ratio (ATER), and Land Use Efficiency (LUE), were significantly influenced by RM, demonstrating intercropping’s yield advantage over sole cropping. LER values exceeded 1.0 in most treatments, with the highest LER (2.80 and 2.33) observed at 0.0 t ha⁻¹ at BUK and NPK at DWK. Aggressivity values revealed competitive interactions between finger millet and groundnut. This study underscores the potential of RM to enhance intercropping productivity, highlighting the importance of site-specific factors and nutrient management in optimizing intercropping systems.