Effect of Okra Planting Density and Spatial Arrangement in Intercrop with Maize on the Growth and Yield of the Component Species

Abstract

The effects of three okra planting densities (28 000; 56 000 and 111 000 plants ha') intercropped within or between maize rows were investigated in two field trials during the 1990 and 1991 wet seasons at Nsukka. The plant height and the leaf area index (LAI) increased as the planting density increased in sole or intercropped okra while the number of branches per plant decreased with increasing okra planting density. The height of maize plants also increased as okra planting density increased but the LAI decreased. Intercropping reduced the yield and yield components (number and weight of pods per plant) of okra and maize (number of cobs, cob length and 100-grain weight). Increasing okra planting density reduced the sole and the intercropped okra and also the maize intercrop yield by reducing the number of pods and grains as well as the pod and grain size, respectively. Assessment of the productivity ofthe mixtures showed that the highest yield advantage (35%) of growing okra and maize together was obtained at 28000 okra plants ha' while the highest monetary return was realized at the highest okra planting density of 111000 plants ha ' intercropped between maize rows. The patterns of row arrangement did not have effect on the growth, yield and yield components of the mixtures.

Effect of Variety and Time of Intercropping of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) With Maize (Zea mays L.) on Yield Components and Yields of Associated Crops and Productivity of the System at Mid-Land of Guji, Southern Ethiopia

“…Seed yield of the three varieties of common bean in intercropping generally exhibited an extreme decline as their planting was delayed after maize, which implies the presence of severe competition for resource as maize crop becomes well established. In previous studies, maize has been shown to be a great competitor in mixtures and had the advantage of being taller than cowpea and might intercept more light than cowpea [18]. Competition for nutrients can also result in substantial crop yield reductions in mixed cropping systems [19].…”

In support of a well-planned intercropping systems in south eastern soils of Nigeria: A review

“…Agboola and Fayemi (2001) investigated maize/Mucuna pruriens intercrop and observed that maize yield was reduced but intercropping with Calopogonium mucunoides, groundnut, pigeon peas did not affect the maize yield, their studies equally indicated that C. mucunoides, groundnut, pigeon pea and cowpea fixed 370 kg N/ha when intercropped with maize. Maize-potato intercropping performed better than the sole potato as was observed by Begum et al (1999) and in maize-okra intercropping Muoneke and Asiegbu (1997) observed that yield and yield components of okra was increased. Sharma and Tiwani (1996) reported that maize/tomato intercrop increased the number and weight of fruit.…”

“…Muoneke et al (2001) reported yield reduction in Roselle/cowpea intercrop and the reduction was the highest when intercropped with Roselle planting density of 37,000 Roselle plant/ha. The authors attributed yield reduction to competition for growth resources as reported in other crops in mixtures by other various workers (Willey, 1979;Muoneke and Asiegbu, 1997). Ikeh et al (2013) noted yield increase in water yam/vegetable cowpea.…”

Impact of Intercropping Sorghum and Okra on the Incidence of Flea Beetles of Okra <i>Podagrica</i> spp in Dalwa, Maiduguri Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria

“…Okigbo and Greenland (1998) reported that farmers in Africa practice intercropping because it gives higher growth performance, higher vegetative growth and higher total yields and greater returns than the same crop grown under monocropping system. Growing okra plant under sole cropping condition lead to serious defoliation and subsequent yield reduction (Theunisseu, 1994, Muoneke andAsiegbu, 1997;Broad, 2007, Banfu andMochiah, 2011). Okra leaves damage caused by the flea beetles reduced the photosynthetic capacity of leaves which was manifested in the lower plant heights, number of fruit/plant, light fresh fruit weights and lower fruit yield obtained from sole okra planted plots that suffered more insect damage ( Adelana, 1986 .…”