Little or no maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) grain yield loss occurred in intercrop with mid‐maturity lablab (<i>Lablab purpureus</i>) in northeastern Tanzania

Intercropping is among sustainable intensification tactics farmers may use to increase or maintain productivity and environmental quality. Effects of planting lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet) one two weeks after maize (WAPM) are not well characterized, especially when mid-maturity cultivars used. Greenhouse (Springfield, MO, USA) field studies (Arusha, Tanzania) were conducted in 2018 2019 assess early (≤60 d) full-season effects on growth grain production. The greenhouse study characterized characteristics was sown 0-, 1-, 2-WAPM for each four lablab. ‘Echo Cream’ produced greater vine length more nodes than other the greenhouse. biomass node number greatest ≤1-WAPM. compared monoculture intercrop yields. Highest yields occurred ≥1-WAPM, but highest planted at same time as maize. maize/lablab always resulted favorable Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs) ranging from 1.5 2.1. partial LER yield reduced by 7% relative either year. Lablab negatively affected delay, decreasing about 60% 31% date treatment. Although twining vines complicate harvest, our results demonstrate increased production per unit area with intercropping, a potential farmer income household nutrition. This article protected copyright. All rights reserved