_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: ueudensi@yahoo.co.uk, udensi.udensi@uniport.edu.ng; ueudensi60@gmail.com; International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 27(2): 1-15, 2019; Article no.IJPSS.47702 ISSN: 2320-7035 Effect of Maize –Legume Intercrop and Fertilizer on Weed Suppression and Maize Performance in South Eastern, Nigeria Akpa, Ogonnaya Esther 1 , Udensi Ekea Udensi 1* , Omovbude, Sunday 1 and Orluchukwu, Joseph Amadi 1 1 Department of Crop and Soil Science, University of Port Harcourt, East West Road, Choba, P.M.B.5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. Authors AOE and UEU designed the study. Authors AOE, UEU, OS and OJA supervised, managed and collected the data. Author UEU performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol and the first draft of the manuscript with author AOE. Authors UEU, AOE and OS managed the analyses of the study. Authors AOE, OS and OJA managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/IJPSS/2019/v27i230071 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Davide Neri, Associate Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental, Polytechnic University of Marche - Via Brecce White, Ancona, Italy. Reviewers: (1) Toungos, Mohammed Dahiru, Adamawa State University Mubi, Nigeria. (2) Rocky Thokchom, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Agricultural Sciences, India. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle3.com/review-history/47702 Received 20 December 2018 Accepted 01 March 2019 Published 28 March 2019 ABSTRACT Maize is one of the most commonly cultivated arable crops in the rain forest zone of South Eastern Nigeria. Globally soil fertility and weed pressure are the most important constraints limiting increase productivity of Maize especially in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Unavailability and cost of inorganic fertilizer as well as cost of labour for weeding have engendered low productivity of maize. Hence this trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of maize-legume systems on weed suppression and maize performance. The trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria located within latitude 0454’N and longitude 655 ’ E). The trial was conducted between April 4 th and July 5 th , 2017. The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of 3 types of legume systems (Mucuna pruriens, Lablab purpurens and No legume) and three levels of NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer (0, 15, and 30 kg NPK/ha). The 9 treatment combinations were replicated thrice Original Research Article