RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Plant establishment and growth. Establishment of cassava was significantly (P<0.05) higher in sole cropped cassava than in intercropped cassava in both cropping seasons (Table 2). The two higher cowpea densities (60,000 and 80,000 plants ha-1) had higher establishment than the lower densities. The reduction of establishment percentage in intercropping could be due to the modification of the soil micro-environment at full coverage of cowpea at 8 weeks after planting as reported by Ikeorgu et. al., (1984) in cassava/egusi melon intercropping system. Osiru and Ezumah (1994) have reported high variability in cassava with respect to sprouting ability and leafiness which they reported as a major factor in compatibility of cassava for intercropping with short duration crops.There was no significant effect of cowpea planting density nor intercropping on cassava plant height and leaf area index in both cropping seasons (2004/2005 and 2005/2006) (Table 2), but cowpea density significantly (P<0.05) increased LAI in 2005/2006. One expected plant height to increase with cowpea population density as a result of crowding and competition for light but this result did not conform to this expectation, probably because the cowpea population at which interspecific competition for light becomes limiting might not have been reached. Besides, the growth habits of the two crop species differed; while cowpea was low growing, cassava has erect growth. This result also showed cassava plant height, number of branches and LAI increased with age. Similar results had been reported by Olasantan (1993) in cowpea/cassava and Aduramigba and Tijani-Eniola (2001) in groundnut/cassava intercropping.
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