Farm?scale assessment of maize–pigeonpea productivity in Northern Tanzania

Abstract Little is known about productivity of smallholder maize–pigeonpea intercropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a survey 277 farm households Northern Tanzania to assess socio-economic factors, field management characteristics, and their association with intercrops. On each farm, crop assessments were focused on that the farmer identified as most important for food supply. Variables associated yields evaluated using linear regression classification. Biomass production ranged between 1.0 16.6 maize, 0.2 11.9 t ha ?1 pigeonpea (at maize harvest). The corresponding grain 0.1 9.5 2.1 pigeonpea. Plant density at harvest, number years had been cultivated, slope, weeding, soil fertility class, fertiliser manure use significantly variation yield, interactions among factors. Fields flat gentle slopes plant above 24,000 28% extra when was applied, while less than plants yielded 16% yield applied. harvest key factor yield; fields densities an average 1.4 , 0.5 . conclude performance intercrops can be enhanced through application organic inorganic nutrient sources, agronomic interventions including implementing conservation measures steep optimising density.