Productivity of an Intercropped Sweet Orange Orchard in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

At lbadan southwestern Nigeria, juvenile Agege I sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) trees were intercropped with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) + maize (Zea mays L.), egusi melon (Citrullus lanatus L.) followed by soyabeans (Glycine max (L.) Merit), or chilli pepper Capsicum frutescence L.) + amaranthus (Amaranthus caudatus L.) for four consecutive years. The aim was to detennine an intercropping option which would yield high revenues without impairing the fruit yield of sweet orange. None of the intercrops significantly affected the height of sweet orange trees. However, all the intercrops significantly decreased the canopy diameter of sweet orange trees in the second year of intercropping. lntercropping with egusi melon followed by soyabeans, or cassava + maize significantly decreased the canopy volume of sweet orange trees. Intercropping with cassava + maize prevented early fruit set and significantly decreased fruit yield of sweet orange. Fruit yield of sweet orange intercropped with chilli pepper+ amaranthus did not differ significantly from the yields of monocropped sweet orange trees. Intercropping with chilli pepper + amaranthus gave the highest yield efficiency of sweet orange trees. Net Present Value (NPV) of sweet orange plots monocropped or intercropped egusi melon followed by soyabeans, cassava + maize or chilli pepper + amaranthus were N -37900, N -300, N 105900 and N 154300 respectively. Since intercropping with chilli pepper+ amaranthus gave the highest productivity without impairing fruit yield of sweet orange, this cropping system is recommended for adoption by citrus farmers in southwestern Nigeria.

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). Relay intercropping can also increase the likelihood of success (Duval, 2005;Guldan et al, 1997b).…”

Soil Nutrients Balance in Sweet Orange Intercropped with Some Arable Crops

“…Adequate knowledge of the soil nutrient removal, soil water, and temperature differences by the different intercrops will assist in determining the relative compatibility of the intercrops. Earlier studies on intercropping citrus orchard tried to address monetary returns from the intercrops before citrus comes to fruiting, weed suppression by the intercrops, and the effect of the intercrops on the growth and yield of the intercrops (Lameira and Oliveira, 1992;Aiyelaagbe and Kintomo, 1999;Aiyelaagbe, 2001). There is dearth of information on the nutrient removal by the intercrops to explain what is left for the citrus use.…”

Photosynthesis, Light Acclimation of Photosynthesis and Chlorphyll Fluorescence of Lemon in Response to Water Stress and Shading

“…Light intensity sometimes interacts with plant water status to influence photosynthesis (Thomas and Turner, 2001). It is uncertain whether this occurs in citrus and thus explains the curtailed growth of intercropped cit-rus (Aiyelaagbe, 2001). Consequently, our study was designed to determine if the effects of water stress and shading on net photosynthesis are interactive or independent.…”