Field experiments were conducted from June to August, during the years 2008 and 2009 planting seasons at the University of Agriculture Research Farm Makurdi, Nigeria, to evaluate the response of 'NH47-4' variety of okra to different intra-row spacing and to determine the optimal intra-row spacing that would maximize yield under Makurdi conditions. The treatments consisted of three intra-row spacing (30 cm, 25 cm and 20 cm), replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Results of the study showed that while the tallest okra height was produced from the intra-row spacing of 25 cm, the number of branches per plant, leaf area, pod length, pod diameter, number of pods per plant, pod weight and yield decreased as intra-row spacing reduced. The greatest yield was obtained from the intra-row spacing of 30 cm. The yield produced from the intra-row spacing of 30 cm was significantly (P<0.05) greater by 21.9 % and 8.9 % respectively, in the year 2008 and 2009 compared to that obtained from the intra-row spacing of 25 cm and by 34.4 % and 12.5 % respectively, in the year 2008 and 2009 compared to that produced from the intra-row spacing of 20 cm. The implication of this study showed that to maximize okra yield for variety 'NH47-4', the optimal intra-row spacing was found to be 30 cm and could therefore be recommended for Makurdi location, Nigeria.

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.

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.

Field experiments were conducted from July to November during the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons, at the Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, to evaluate the yields of two newly introduced sesame varieties (Ex Sudan and SN 603) against the commonly grown variety "E-8" under intercropping with maize variety 'Oba 98'. The trial area consisted of a total of seven treatments, replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that, though maize yield was not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by intercropping with sesame varieties, however, intercropped yield of sesame variety 'Ex Sudan' was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater by 26.8 % and 25.6 % respectively, in years 2012 and 2013, compared to that obtained from intercropped sesame variety 'SN 603', and by 19.5 % and 20.9 % respectively, in years 2012 and 2013, compared to that produced from intercropped popular sesame variety 'E-8'. Intercropping maize variety 'Oba 98' with sesame variety 'Ex Sudan' gave the highest total intercrop yield, greatest biological efficiency with a relative yield total values of 0.87 and 0.91 respectively, in 2012 and 2013. The combination also recorded the highest land equivalent ratio (LER), highest land equivalent coefficient, highest area x time equivalent ratio (ATER), highest total monetary returns (N584,200 and N588,600 respectively, in years 2012 and 2013) and highest monetary equivalent ratio (MER). The implication of study showed that sesame variety 'Ex Sudan' performed best and could therefore be recommended as a potential replacement for the popular variety 'E-8' under intercropping with maize variety 'Oba 98' in Makurdi, Nigeria.

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 evaluate the yield effects of egusi melon-okra intercrop as influenced by the interaction of time of introducing okra x cropping systems, 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 cropping systems (sole egusi melon, sole okra and egusi melon-okra mixture) constituted the main plots, while the time of introducing okra (mid August, late August and early September) into egusi melon were allocated to the subplots. Results of study showed that to obtain optimal intercrop yield of okra in an egusi melon-okra intercrop, it is appropriate planting okra at the same time with egusi melon in mid August, while introducing okra into egusi melon in late August is appropriate to obtain optimal 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 0.53 and 0.70 were respectively recorded, in years 2012 and 2013, for okra introduced into egusi melon in early September. These recommendations are appropriate for Makurdi location, Nigeria