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

Abstract

Soil is the medium for all crop production activities and many of the tropical soils especially soils of South Eastern Nigeria show nutrient deficiency problems after only a short period of cultivation because of the fragile nature and prevailing environmental condition. Land available for further crop production purposes in this area is very limited. To offset some of these problems and boast crop production and yields as well as economic returns, farmers use chemical fertilizers extensively on their field. These chemical fertilizers have their attendant problems ranging from non-availability, high cost, and nutrient imbalances to soil acidity. Consumers of agricultural products and farmers are getting more aware of the dangers caused by these chemicals in soil, environment, and health problems in consuming heavily chemically fertilized crops. An alternative to these chemicals is intercropping due to its environmentally friendly approach. Beside the labour management and adequate use of resources available, intercropping system promotes soil fertility maintenance, conservation and balanced nutrient which will improve crop quality and yield. It ensures farmers' flexibility, reduction against crop failures, weed control and profit maximization. This paper reviews the various contributions of intercropping system to soil fertility enhancement, nutrient recycle, and transfers among intercrop species; its effect on growth and yield of crop species as well as enlightenment on the various terms used to describe the intercropping system.

Weed Competition and Performance of Sorghum and Groundnut Intercrop as Influenced by Row Orientation and Arrangement

“…Similarly, Alabo et al (2015) reported that 2 rows of sorghum: 1 row of soybean out yielded 1 row of sorghum:1 row of soybean by 83% while soybean yield was 93.3% higher in 1 sorgum:2 rows of soybean than in 1 row of sorgum: 1 row of soybean. In a reviewed paper, Nweke (2017) noted that the Maize/Cowpea intercropping system significantly increased forage dry matter yield compared to maize and cowpea sole crops. In a sorghum/ cowpea intercropped, Afe (2020) observed the lowest grain yield of sorghum (1,160.84 kg/ha) and cowpea (583.38 kg/ha) from 100 sorgum: 100 cowpea and 100 sorghum:25 cowpea population ratios, respectively.…”

Contributing towards meeting Africa Agenda 2063: progress made by Nigerian Agricultural Engineers in the development of small-scale agricultural machinery

“…Technically, although crop production aspect involving the application of biological sciences and technology to increase yield and quality of produce play a major role, the agricultural mechanization component of agriculture sector development has been less emphasized or suffered a neglect. Moreover, the common practice of small farm holders in Nigeria is intercropping (Nweke, 2018;Ajayi, 2014) and this is being done using cutlasses and hoes. Efforts must be geared to get over these challenges to achieve the AU agenda 2063.…”

The residual effect of different levels of rice mill ash on maize-soybean intercrop

“…The objective of intercropping is to produce more crop yield on a piece of land by making use of resources otherwise would not have been utilized by a single crop. This wonderful method of cropping if properly planned and implemented in Nigeria soils especially southeastern region soils taken into account the climate, crop type and variety, disease and pest, as Nweke [8] argued could be a panacea for sustainable food production, environmental harmony and a strong check to land degradation in the area. This new and improved method of cropping advocated has been avoided by farmers especially the large and commercial farmers on the pretense of complications of planting and harvesting.…”

“…Nonetheless, intercropping usually give benefit from increased light interception, root contact with more soils and more nutrients, increased microbial activity and can act as a deterrent to pest and weed of the other crop. Available growth resources such as light, water and nutrient are more completely absorbed and converted to crop biomass by the intercropping as a result of differences in competitive ability for growth factor between intercropping components [8,9]. However food production is based on continuous availability of plant nutrients in the soil, and continuous cropping without adequate input and to the depletion of soil nutrients with resultant poor yield of cultivated crops.…”