ISSN 2756-3251
Advanced Journal of Environmental Science and Technology ISSN 7675-1686 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of site characteristics on the productivity and economic returns from cassava legume intercropping in Ghana
J. O. Fening1*, T. Adjei Gyapong2, F. Ababio1 and E. Gaisie1
1Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso-Kumasi, Ghana.
2Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture. CANR, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
Accepted 17 September, 2017
Abstract
In a 2-year field study, cassava was intercropped with four legumes (cowpea, pigeon pea, soyabean and Stylosanthes at three locations with different soil and environmental conditions, to determine the effect of site characteristics on the agronomic and economic advantage of the intercrop. The trial was a factorial experiment in a split plot design with three replications. A cost benefit analysis was conducted for the trial on the different crop arrangements. Root yield of cassava in the mixed cassava legume treatment across location during the first year was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the stripped treatment. Root yield of cassava cowpea mixed intercrop for example ranged from 38 to 88 t/ha. In the second year however, considerable variations were observed among the treatments with NPK treatment giving the highest yield of 84 t/ha. This influenced the overall economic net benefits and showed that the intercrop advantage depended on the interaction of component crops, the growth environment and to some extent agronomic manipulations, suggesting that the best combination of crops under a particular system of management in one environment with a particular set of climate and soil conditions may not necessarily be suitable in another environment.
Key words: Cassava, economic returns, intercropping, productivity.