Crop performance in complex mixtures: melon and okra in cassava-maize mixture

Ikeorgu, J.E.G., Wahua, T.A.T., & Ezumah, H.C. (1984). Crop performance in complex mixtures: melon and okra in cassava maize mixture. In Tropical root crops: production and uses in Africa: proceedings of the Second Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops-Africa Branch held in Douala, Cameroon, 14-19 Aug. 1983. Ottawa, Canada. IDRC. (pp. 63-66).

We conducted a 2-year investigation at Ibadan, Nigeria, to determine the economic benefits of including melon and okra in a cassava—maize intercropping system. Fresh-root yields of cassava were reduced by 28% by maize in the mixture but only by 3%, 6%, and 9% by okra, melon, or both, respectively. Intercropping had no adverse effect on the grain yield of maize; rather yield was 19% higher in the maize—cassava intercrop than in monoculture. Fresh-fruit yields of okra were reduced by 72%, 89%, and 56% in mixtures with cassava, cassava—maize, and cassava—maize—melon, respectively. Melon-seed yields were decreased by 56% and 76% in mixtures with cassava and cassava—maize, respectively. The cassava—maize cropping system yielded the highest amount of calories per hectare; however, total productivity per unit area of land was highest in the cassava—maize mixture with both okra and melon.