INFLUENCE OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA) INTERCROP ON GROWTH AND FRUIT YIELDS OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM SPP.) IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

In tropical Africa, pepper (Capsicum spp.) is grown as a rainfed crop, and its production is limited by the long, hot growing season. Field experiments were conducted in Nigeria to evaluate the effects of cassava (Manihot esculenta) on the growth and yields of three pepper cultivars and gross returns in 2001-2003 was planted between rows of cassava cvs Idileru (PI), Odongbo (PO) and TMS 30572 (PT). In Experiment 2, pepper cvs Sombo, Tatase and Atarodo, were mixed with TMS 30572 (MS, MT or MA). The growth environment for the intercropped pepper differed from sole crops of pepper. Radiant energy reaching the soil surface, maximum diurnal soil and canopy temperatures, and weed growth were lower with intercropping, with the lowest values being observed in the PI and PT intercrops. Similarly, soil moisture content and the number of earthworm casts were greater with intercropping, with the highest values also occurring in the PI and PT intercrops. In both experiments, fresh fruit yields of pepper depended on the duration of harvest, the number of fruits per plant and the weight of fruits. In Experiment 1, although the number of fruits and fruit yield of cv. Sombo were greater in the sole crop (SP) than the PO intercrop, the fruit yields in the PI and PT intercrops were similar to those of the SP plot. In Experiment 2, the number of fruits and yield of intercropped pepper cvs Tatase, Sombo and Atarodo were 25-28 % higher, on average, than in pure stands. Cassava tuber yield was not affected by intercropped pepper in either experiment. Total gross returns were greater than growing either pepper or cassava in monoculture. Increased total gross returns in the intercrops were obtained in the PI and PT treatments and in the MS and MA treatments without a significant reduction in pepper fruit yield. By promoting early fruit set and harvest, and bearing in mind the cumulative gross returns, mixing pepper and cassava enhanced the value of the vegetable, as early fresh pepper fruits command a premium price. It is concluded that pepper can be grown between cassava rows to provide a suitable environment for growth, but that this depends on the cassava cultivar. Using the less tall early cassava cultivar, with a relatively moderate leaf area index in a mixture with pepper is therefore recommended. I N T RO D U C T I O NPepper is widely cultivated in the tropics, and is generally recognized in the international market for its high content of vitamins A and C. The main species, Capsicum frutescens (hot pepper) and Capsicum annuum (sweet pepper), constitute about 40 % of the vegetables consumed in Nigeria (Denton and Swarup, 1981).In the humid tropics, pepper is grown as a rainfed crop, with annual rainfall totals of 650-1250 mm and relative humidities of 75-88 % providing suitable growing conditions. Rainfall greater than this range is detrimental, as it leads to poor fruit set and rotting of the fruits (Purseglove, 1977). Excess soil moisture causes shedding of

Intercropping for Field Production of Peppers

“…Factors such as whether peppers are the primary crop in the system (Kabura et al, 2008;Olasantan et al, 2007;Sharma and Bajaj, 1998), the timing of the intercrop planting (Duval, 2005;Guldan et al, 1997b), climatic conditions (Prabhakar and Shukla, 1990), pest pressure (Emeasor and Ezueh, 1997;Hooks and Johnson, 2001;Sharma and Bajaj, 1998), and local economics (Guldan et al, 1998;Kaur and Khurana, 2008;Ram and Kumar, 1998) all contribute to the potential success or failure of intercropping with peppers. Positive results are most likely to occur when plant-to-plant competition can be minimized, for example when peppers are used as intercrops in young orchards (Aiyelaagbe, 2001) or in hedgerow crops (Chen et al, 1989).…”

“…Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) Olasantan et al (2007) evaluated the effects of cassava (Manihot esculenta) on the growth and yields of pepper compared with sole cropping. Cassava tuber yield was unaffected by intercropping with pepper, and total gross returns were greater with intercropping than with growing either cassava or pepper in monoculture.…”

Influence of Time of Cowpea Introduction at the Establishment Phase of Pineapple on Performance of Pepper in a Pineapple-Pepper-Cowpea Intercropping System

“…Pepper (Capsicum spp), member of the Solanaceae family with upright growth habit, are well adapted to sole-cropping and intercropping system. Several successful combination of pepper with other crops in intercropping has been reported [8,9,10,11]. The success or failure of intercropping pepper depends on whether pepper is the main crop or as secondary crop in the intercrop [12].…”

Intercropping Sunflower with Soyabeans Enhances Total Crop Productivity

“…Conditions of the 2002 cropping season were more favourable for soyabean and sunflower production because they were wetter and cooler than in 2001. Although changes in microclimate due to intercropping were not investigated in this study, Olasantan (2007) and Olasantan et al (2007) revealed that substantial variations in soil moisture, light interception, and air, canopy and soil temperatures under intercropping were favourably modified to benefit the growth of component crops. However, lack of appreciable yield reduction of Record and Isaanka in the mixtures suggests that these varieties have some level of compatibility with soyabean, especially TGx 1440-1E and TGx 1448-2E, compared with var.…”