Increasing the Productivity and Sustainability of Millet Based Cropping Systems in the Sahelian Zones of West Africa

A study was set up in Mali during four consecutive years to evaluate the effect of three cowpea plant populations on the performance of three pearl millet genotypes in intercropping and in rotation with cowpea. The trial was conducted on a leached tropical sandy soil at the Cinzana Agricultural Research Station at 300 km from Bamako. Pearl millet genotypes used in the test were: Indiana 05, Sanioba 03 and Toroniou C1. The cowpea genotype was evaluated at 16600, 33300 and 66600 plants ha-1 corresponding respectively to low, medium and high plant populations. Alternate rows of millet and cowpea were used in intercropping. The rotation started from the second year.