Subscribe

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get informed about new publication regulary and special discounts for subscribers!

ILNS > Volume 38 > Optimum Plant Density of Okra and Intercropping...
< Back to Volume

Optimum Plant Density of Okra and Intercropping Effects on Yields of Egusi Melon-Okra Mixture, at Makurdi, Nigeria

Full Text PDF

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted from August to November, during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons at the Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, to identify the optimum plant density of okra and intercropping effects on yields of egusi melon-okra mixture and to assess the yield advantages of the intercropping system. The experiment was a 3x3 split plot arrangement of treatments, fitted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated four times. The intercropping (sole egusi melon, sole okra and egusi melon-okra mixture) constituted the main plots, while the population densities of okra (33,000, 40,000 and 50,000 plants ha-1 equivalent) into egusi melon were allocated to the subplots. Results of study showed that to maximize intercrop yield of okra in an egusi melon-okra intercrop, the optimal population density of okra is 33,000 plants ha-1, while that of 40,000 plants ha-1 is optimal to maximize intercrop yield of egusi melon. Intercropping egusi melon and okra significantly (P≤0.05) reduced yields of egusi melon (37.5 % and 40.5 % respectively, in years 2012 and 2013) and that of okra (9.7 % and 16.9 % respectively, in years 2012 and 2013). The highest mean land equivalent ratio value of 1.57 and highest land equivalent coefficient values of 0.60 and 0.63 respectively, in years 2012 and 2013, were recorded for okra sown into egusi melon at the population density of 40,000 plants ha-1. It is most advantageous having both crops in intercrop when okra is sown into egusi melon at the population density of 40,000 plants ha-1. This should therefore be recommended for Makurdi location, Nigeria.

Info:

Periodical:
International Letters of Natural Sciences (Volume 38)
Pages:
46-55
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18052/www.scipress.com/ILNS.38.46
Citation:
M. O. Ijoyah et al., "Optimum Plant Density of Okra and Intercropping Effects on Yields of Egusi Melon-Okra Mixture, at Makurdi, Nigeria", International Letters of Natural Sciences, Vol. 38, pp. 46-55, 2015
Online since:
May 2015
Authors:
Michael Ojore Ijoyah, Felix Terna Fanen, Francis Doo Aindigh
Keywords:
Egusi Melon, Intercropping, Nigeria, Okra, Plant Density
Export:
RIS, BibTeX, Text
Distribution:
Open Access

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

References:

Adetiloye P.O., Ezedinma F.O.C., Okigbo B.N., Ecological Modeling 19 (1983) 27-39.

Ayoola O.T., Makinde E.A., Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems 8 (3) (2008) 235-241.

Badifu G.I.O., Ogunsa A.O., Plant Foods and Human Nutrition 41 (1991) 35-44.

BOSADP (1998). Cropping recommendations. Borno State Agricultural Development Programme, Annual Report, Pp. 76.

Breda N.J., Journal of Experimental Botany 54 (2003) 2403-2417.

Brisibe E.A., Udensi O., Ntui V.O., Out P.A., Chukwurah P.N., African Journal of Plant Science 5(13) (2011) 759-766.

Burkil H.M. (1997). The useful plants of tropical West Africa. 43rd Ed., Royal botanical gardens, Kew, Pp. 166-179.

Christo E.I., Onuh M.O. (2005). Influence of plant spacing on the growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench). Proceedings of the 39th conference of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, Benin, 2005, pp.51-53.

Duthie J.A., Shrefler J.W., Roberts B.W., Edelson J.V., Crop Science Journal 39 (1999) 406- 412.

Ekpete D.M., Nigerian Agricultural Journal 13 (2000) 96-102.

Enwezor W.O.E., Udo J., Ajotade K.A. (1989). Fertilizer procurement and distribution, fertilizer use and management practice for crops in Nigeria. Savenda Publishers, Nsukka, Nigeria, pp.25-28.

Ibeawuchi I.K., Nature and Science 5(1) (2007) 46-49.

Ijoyah M.O., Alexander A., Fanen F.T., Agriculture and Biology Journal of Northern America (6) (2012) 1328-1332.

Ijoyah M.O., Atanu S.O., Ojo S., Journal of Applied Biosciences 32 (2010) 2015-(2019).

Katung M.D., Kachina B.D. (2005).

Madu F.O., Nwosu S.K. (2001).

Majnoun H.N., Ellis R.H., Yazdi-Samadi B., Journal of Science and Technology 3 (2001)131139.

McGilchrist C.A., Biometrics 27 (1971) 659-671.

Muoneke C.O., Ogwuche M.A.O., Kalu B.A., African Journal of Agricultural Research 2(12) (2007) 667-677.

Ogbonna P.E., Obi I.U. (2010). Aspects of reproductive character of egusi melon. Proceedings of the 34 th annual conference of genetics society of Nigeria, 22-27.

Okaka V.B., Remison S.U., Nigeria Agricultural Journal 30 (1999) 49-58.

Olufajo O.O., Tropical Oil Seeds Journal 1 (1992) 27-33.

Silwana T.T., Lucas E.O., Journal of Agricultural Science 138 (2002) 193-200.

Steel G.O., Torrie J.H. (1980). Principles and procedures of statistics. A biometrical approach. 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill Book International Company, New York, Pp. 633.

Tindal H.D. (1986). Vegetables in the tropics. 1st edition, Macmillan Publishers, Hong Kong, pp.325-327.

Usman S.D., Seed Research 29(1) (2001) 47-51.

Willey R.W., Experimental Agriculture 21 (1985) 119-133.

Willey R.W., Rao M.R., Experimental Agriculture 16 (1980) 117-125.

Yadev S.K., Dhanker B.S., Vegetable Science 27 (2002) 70-74.

Show More Hide