EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING PUMPKIN WITH CASSAVA ON SOIL MICRO- ENVIRONMENT, WEED CONTROL, CROP GROWTH AND YIELDS

Experiments were conducted in Abeokuta, Nigeria in a forest-savanna transition zone to evaluate the effects of intercropping pumpkin with cassava (Cv. Odongbo Idileru and TMS 30572) on soil micro environment, weed control, crop growth and yields. Experimental design used was Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates. Intercropping cassava with pumpkin significantly reduced supra-optimal soil temperature by 1.1-2.4 0C and weed biomass by 19-140%, and increased soil moisture content by 19-33g kg,-1 light interception by 67% and earthworm cast by 87% compared with sole cassava. Intercropping did not significantly affect the vegetative characters, number of days to harvesting and harvest duration of pumpkin, irrespective of the cassava cultivars. However, intercropping with cassava significantly increased the aggregate leaf area index of both crops by 35-77% and 45-58% compared with sole cropped pumpkin and cassava, respectively. Although, tuber yield of cassava was significantly reduced by 7-11% when intercropped with pumpkin, yield advantage of intercropping increased by 42-91% compared to sole cropping.  Irrespective of the cropping system; TMS 30572 produced higher tuber yield of 5-20% than “Idileru†and 21-41% than “Odongboâ€. It is concluded that pumpkin can be grown in mixture with cassava to provide a suitable environment for growth, but this depends on the cassava cultivar. Using a short early maturing cassava cultivar with a moderate leaf area index (TMS 30572) in a mixture with pumpkin is therefore recommended.Â

EFFECT OF INTERCROPPING ON SOIL HYDRO-THERMAL REGIME, CROP PERFORMANCE AND WEED SITUATION IN A CASSAVA/OKRA INTERCROP

Experiments were conducted in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria to evaluate the effect of intercropping okra with cassava (Cv. Odongbo Idileru and TMS 30572) on soil hydrothermal regime, weed control, crop growth and yields. Treatments were randomized within three blocks in a split-plot design. Main plot was cropping system and subplot was cassava variety. Intercropping of cassava with okra significantly reduced the soil temperature by 2-7 % and weeds biomass by 60-76 %, and increased soil moisture content by 8-21 % and light interception by 16 % compared with sole cassava. Number of surface earthworm casts was 176 % higher than in sole okra. Intercropping with cassava did not significantly affect the vegetative characters, number of days to flowering and harvesting and harvest duration of okra, irrespective of the cassava cultivars. Vegetative characters and tuber yield of cassava were also not significantly affected by intercropping with okra.  Tuber yield of Cv. Odongbo’ was significantly reduced by 15-21% than Idileru, and 31-35% than TMS 30572. Yield advantage of intercropping increased by 78-114% compared to sole cropping. It is concluded that okra can be grown in mixture with cassava to provide a suitable environment for growth, but this depends on the cassava cultivar. Using a short early maturing cassava cultivar, with a moderate leaf area index in a mixture with okra is therefore recommended.Â

Evaluation of Animal Manures on the Yield of Solanum Macrocarpon L. and Chemical Properties of Soil

Animal manures regarded as wastes could be channeled towards improving the fertility of the soil and crop production. A field experiment was conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria in 2013 to evaluate the effect of animal manures on yield and chemical properties of soil grown with Solanum macrocarpon. Treatments used were: goat manure at 10, 20 and 30t/ha (GM 10, GM 20 and GM 30 respectively), poultry manure at 10, 20 and 30t/ha (PM 10, PM 20 and PM 30 respectively), cow dung at 10, 20, 30t/ha (CD 10, CD 20 and CD 30 respectively) and control. Application of GM 30 significantly increased the height (25.90 cm), number of leaves (65), yield (248.65 g/plant) of S. macrocarpon and post harvest soil K (0.08 cmol/kg) above the control. Highest post harvest soil available phosphorus (54.58 mg/kg) and magnesium (2.47 cmol/kg) were observed from PM 30 treated plots. S. macrocarpon could be grown with either goat manure at 30t/ha or poultry manure at 30 t/ha for higher yield and improved soil quality on soils similar to the one used for the experiment