Water use efficiency of cowpea and maize crops on single and intercropping systems in the Brazilian semiarid region

This study aimed to analyze the productivity, the water use efficiency, and the economical viability for corn and cowpea crops on single and intercropping systems in the Brazilian semiarid region. The experiment was carried out at Petrolina, State of Pernambuco. The crops, in different planting systems (single and intercropping), underwent the five blades of irrigation, applied at the flowering stage of cowpea to 40 days after sowing. Combining the settings of cultivation system and the different depths of irrigation, crops of maize and cowpea were subjected to 15 different treatments. To evaluate the performance of crops in the different treatments indicators that consider the production response of crops and the performance of the application of water in the production system were used. The grain yield responses of maize and cowpea to the soil water content were reduced in intercropped plantations, in relation to single cropping. Even so, in economic terms, the adoption of maize-cowpea proved to be more advantageous in all treatments.

Zea mays; Vigna unguiculata; intercropping