Fertilizer (110–60–100 kg N–P2O5–K2O ha−1) was applied each year before planting based on recommendations for maize production. The legumes were not inoculated because it was assumed that sufficient populations of Rhizobia were present in the soil from recent studies using the same species. Plot size was 2.4 m × 8.0 m in which eight rows were sown on 20 July each year with a single-row, hand drill in rows 30 cm apart. Seed of mixtures were blended before planting. In addition to a pre-planting irrigation of 10 cm, 7.5 cm were applied 17, 32, and 50 days after planting each year, all by flood irrigation. Monthly mean temperature and precipitation data were collected from the weather observatory at the University campus approximately 500 m from the research area