INTERCROPPING SHORT AND LONG DURATION GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS-HYPOGAEA) GENOTYPES TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY IN ENVIRONMENTS PRONE TO END-OF-SEASON DROUGHTS

Three short duration and one long duration groundnut genotypes, grown either ‘sole’ or as intercrops (in 1:1 ratios of the short duration with the long duration genotypes), were compared in four trials. The intercrop treatments resulted in Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs) of up to 1.25 for pod yield and total biomass despite moderate or severe water deficits at the end of the season. Specific combinations of genotypes were necessary to maximize the LER. The results indicate there is scope for achieving greater productivity in environments with a variable season length by growing late and early genotypes together in an intercrop system. © 1990, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.