Effect of Pod Sucking Bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae, Alydidaei Infestation on Yield of Intercropped Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

An experiment was carried out at the University of Maiduguri Teaching and Research Farm to assess damage caused by pod sucking bugs [Anoplocnemis curvipes (Fab.), Cluvigralla shadabi Doll., C. tomentosicollis Stall, Riptortus dentipes (Fab.), Mirperusjaculus (Thun.), and Nezara viridula L.] on cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] between Jul. and Nov. 2002. Treatments were set up as 4x3x2 factorial arrangement in a strip-split design with planting date (Jul.3 1. Aug. 7. 14 and 21 ) as the main plot factor. cropping pattern of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucutn (L.) R. Br.] and cowpea (3: 1: 2: 1: 1: 1) as subplot factor, and cropping system (millet-cowpea and millet-cowpea-soybean-groundnut intercrop) as sub-subplot factor. Results for planting date showed that the number of bugs/plant and percentage pod damage were significantly lower (P<0.05) while pod yield/plant was significantly higher for the cowpea planted on Jul. 31 compared with those planted on other dates. There were significantly (P<0.05) fewer numbers of bugs/plant for the 2: 1 cropping pattern, lower percentage pod damage for the I: 1 cropping pattern. and higher pod yield/plant for the 3: 1 cropping pattern. For the cropping system. millet-cowpea-groundnut-soybcan had lower number of bugs/plant and higher pod yield/plant than the millet-cowpea cropping system. Planting cowpea early in the season using the cropping pattern 3: 1 in conjunction with the millet-cowpea-groundnut soybean cropping system offered a more effective means of escaping from the yield-depressing effect of pod-sucking bug infestation.