A trial on the effect of intra- and inter-row mixing of pearl millet with two varieties of cowpea on host crop yield in a Striga hermonthica infested field was conducted in the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) research farm in Kano, Nigeria during the 2001/2002 cropping season, significantly (P< 0.05) lowest grain yield of millet was obtained in treatment 7 [Intra-row mixture of pearl millet and cowpea (var. IT96D-452-1) planted at normal spacing alternating with sole cowpea (var. IT96D-452-1) row sown also at normal spacing], the treatment in which the emergence of Striga was first noticed. Treatment 6 [Intra-row mixture of pear] millet and densely planted cowpea (var. IT94K-440-3) alternating with unplanted ridges] had the second significantly highest yield, but Striga emergence was late in this treatment. This suggests that early emergence of Striga had a greater effect on crop yield than the total number of emerged Striga per plant. Further research is being recommended into appropriate legume planting densities in mixtures with cereals as a cultural control strategy for Striga hermonthica.
Keywords: Pearl millet, yield, Intra-row, inter-row, cowpea, mixed-cropping.