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

对撒哈拉以南非洲小农玉米－豌豆间作系统的生产力知之甚少。我们对坦桑尼亚北部的277个农户进行了一项调查，以评估其社会经济因素，田间管理特征以及它们与玉米-鸽子豆间作生产力的关系。在每个农场上，作物评估都集中在农民认为对粮食供应最重要的领域。使用线性回归和回归分类评估与产量相关的变量。玉米的生物量产量在1.0至16.6之间，木豆（玉米收获时）的生物量在0.2至11.9 t ha ^-1之间。玉米的相应谷物产量在0.1至9.5吨之间，在0.1至2.1 t ha ^-1之间为木豆。收获时的植物密度，田地的耕种年限，坡度，除草，土壤肥力等级，肥料和肥料的使用与玉米籽粒产量的变化显着相关，并在各个因素之间相互作用。施用肥料时，植物密度高于24,000 ha ^-1的平坦平缓坡地的田间可增加28％的产量，而施用肥料时少于24,000株ha ^-1的田间可增加16％的产量。收获时的植物密度是影响木豆产量的关键因素。密度大于24,000株ha ^-1的田间平均产量为1.4 t ha ^-1，而少于24,000株ha ^-1的产量为0.5 t ha ^-1。我们的结论是，可以通过应用有机和无机营养源以及农艺干预措施（包括除草，在陡坡上实施土壤保护措施并优化植物密度）来提高间作作物的性能。