Economic assessment of some pre-emergence herbicides in the production of millet-cowpea intercrop in the Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted in 1997 and 1998 cropping seasons at the University of Maiduguri Teaching and
Research Farm located in Maduguri (11° 50’N; 13° 10’E). The aim was to carry out an economic analysis of the
use of some pre-emergence herbicides for the production of millet-cowpea intercrop. The experiment consisted
of 14 treatments which included four different herbicides at three rates each, namely, metolachlor +
metobromuron (Galex), metolachlor (Dual), atrazine, and metolachlor + atrazine (Primextra) applied at the rates
of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg a.i./ha, weeding at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) and a control plot (weedy check). The
treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results showed
that metolachlor + atrazine (Primextra) at 1.0 kg a.i./ha significantly increased individual and combined yields of
cowpea and millet in the two years of study, which were comparable to hoe weeding in two years of study. Also
metolachlor + atrazine at 1.0 kg a.i./ha was found to be more profitable, economical and beneficial than two hoe
weeding and the other treatments in the two years of study. Therefore for higher yield and economic returns,
metolachlor + atrazine (Primextra) at 1.0 kg a.i./ha is recommended to the farmers as alternative to two hoe
weeding in the Sudan Savanna Zone of Nigeria.