Weed Control Potential of Five Legume Cover Crops in Maize/Cassava Intercrop in a Southern Guinea Savanna Ecosystem of Nigeria (Report‪)‬

Introduction Leguminous cover crops have been extensively used in the tropics for soil conservation in plantation crops and for maintaining soil fertility. Fast growing legumes are potentially good for replacing many unwanted weeds that normally dominate farmlands especially after crop harvest (Akobundu, 1987). Generally these cover crops are easier to control than weeds either by slashing or with herbicides. Akobundu [1982] observed the beneficial effects of legume cover crops in plantation crops in the tropics but noted that these beneficial effects have not been successfully extended to food (arable) crop production in a form acceptable to farmers. He therefore suggested the integration of herbaceous legumes as cover crops or live mulch in the existing cropping systems. Other studies Akobundu [1980, 1984]; Akobundu et al [1999]; Ebong and Ononokpono [1970]; Tarawali [1994]; Vesteeg et al.[1998], Vissoh et al [1998]; Udensi et al., [1999] have shown that herbaceous cover crops can smother weeds, reduce the weeding frequency and increase crop yield in the savanna of West Africa. Desirable cover crops are those that do not only cover the soil surface quickly but also suppress weeds. Weeds and labour demand required for weed control are among the most important production constraint (Weber et al. [1997). In Nigeria farmers spend more time in controlling weeds than on any other aspect of crop production. Earlier report by Chikoye et al. (2000) has shown that the simultaneous cropping of cover crops with food crops has a good potential for reducing cost of weed control and production. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the potential of five legume cover crops as weed control agents in maize/cassava intercrop in a southern Guinea savanna ecology.