Growth and yield response of papaya to intercropping with vegetable crops in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

At Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, papaya trees were imercropped with okra, watermelon, sweet potato, bush greens, jews' mallow and Solanum gilo Raddi. The aim of the experiment was to select crops suitable for intercropping in the alleys of papaya plants in orchards. Sweet potato and Solanurn gilo Raddi caused marked reduction in the yield of papaya. Land Equivalent Ration (LER) for papaya intercopped with okra, water-melon, sweet potato, bush greens° jews' mallow and Solanum gilo Raddi were 3.86, 3.13, 2.06, 1.86, 1.60 and 1.54, respectively; indicating that all the combinations were more advantageous than the monocrop of papaya. Monetary value of the mixtures, however, indicated that the inclusion of intercrops of sweet potato or Solanum gilo Raddi, is disadvantageous.Although intercropping in papaya orchards is beneficial, it should be limited to the early vegetative and late fruiting phases of papaya when the Leaf Area Index (LAI) of papaya is low. A relay of okra followed by watermelon or bush greens followed by jews' mallow (or sweet potato grown for fodder) is considered suitable for intercropping the alleys of papaya.

Influence of Intercrop Population and Applied Poultry Manure Rates on Component Crops Productivity Responses in a Snake Tomato/Celosia Cropping System

“…[61] had reported that intercrops are most productive when their component crops differ greatly in growth duration so that their maximum requirements for growth resources occur at different times. However, intercropping results generally in yield reduction of intercrops compared with the same crops grown sole [22] [62]. In this study, higher plant population in year II did not retard vine length increase but vine length decreased with increased plant population in year I.…”

“…Moreover, intercropping offers the tropical farmers an early income from the annual vegetable intercrops before the main crop is harvested [22] [23]. [24] observed that annual vegetable crops such as celosia, okra and pepper occupy valuable ecological niche in tropical agriculture and play significant roles in the eco-physiology of mixed systems.…”

“…[24] observed that annual vegetable crops such as celosia, okra and pepper occupy valuable ecological niche in tropical agriculture and play significant roles in the eco-physiology of mixed systems. Nonetheless, studies on mixed cropping have indicated that intercropping systems despite the reduced individual crop performances of component crops [25] not only produced more overall yield because of more efficient utilization of environmental resources compared to sole cropping [22] [26]- [30], but is also very advantageous in the maintenance of soil fertility through effective soil cover and amelioration of the environment [29]- [32]. However, [33] observed that LER was greater than unity, and that LEC and ATER values followed a trend similar to that of LER, thus demonstrating yield advantages for the intercropped plots.…”

Horticultural Agroforestry Systems Recommended for Climate Change Adaptation: A Review

“…Nedunchezhiyan et al 2012, Mangifera indica Mirjha et al (2016), Pyrus spp. Nerlich et al (2013) Morus alba Asati et al (2007) Zizyphus mauritiana Sereke et al (2014), Coffea arabica Iijima et al (2003) and Carica papaya Aiyelaagbe et al (1992) are mainly intercropped with Fabaceae, Solanaceae, Brassicaceae and Euphorbiaceae crops.…”

The Effect of Combined Application of Poultry Manure and Sawdust on the Growth and Yield of Okra

“…A common intercropping combination in southwest Nigeria is maize/okra relay cropping followed by watermelon or bush greens and jute mallow or fodder crop of sweet potato. Okra is suitable for intercropping with papaya and it also now cultivated as an irrigated crop during the dry season, where it is often produced in mixed cropping with onion and other crops (Adelana, 1986;Aiyelaagbe & Jolaoso, 1992 Vol. 5, No.…”