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ABSTRACT
A field experiment was carried out in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Benin, Benin City to determine the performance of watermelon influenced by cowpea in the low nutrient status soil. The treatments were sole cowpea, sole watermelons, watermelon/cowpea replicated three times were layout in a Randomized Complete Block Design. Soil sample were taken prior and after the experiment for analysis. Data collected from 4 and 8weeks after sowing were plant height, leaf area, number of leaves and stem girth. The highest plant height for cowpea (225cm), leaf area (71.06cm ), number of leaves (135), and stem girth (3.04cm) while the highest vine length for watermelon is (146cm), and number of leaves (52cm) area 8weeks after planting. The available P content was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the sole cowpea (SC) than in sole watermelon (SW), watermelon/cowpea (WC) and the control (SW). Available Mg and Na were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in sole cowpea (SC) and sole watermelon (SW) than in the other treatments. Based on the findings in this study it could be concluded that cowpea significantly influence amount of nitrogen and available P of the sole cowpea (SC), and watermelon/cowpea (WC) soil examined in this study. Cowpea was intercropped with watermelon to enhance soil physicochemical properties, growth and yield of watermelon.
