Abstract

Intercropping is the growing of two or more crops in proximity to promote interaction between them. Intercropping has the advantage of increasing crop productivity. However, it could lower the yield of one or more of the component crops. Two Field trials were conducted to evaluate the intercropping of Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L. and Jute Mallow (Corchorus olitorus L.) at the Research Experimental Station of the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (07⁰ 15’N 03⁰ 25’E) during the dry season of 2020 (November – December) and early wet season (May – July) of 2021. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in four replicates with treatments as Amaranth and Jute Mallow grown sole or in intercropping with each other. Data were collected on plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and leaf yield. Intercropping did not have significant effect on the growth (plant height, number of leaves and stem girth) of both vegetables at both croppings. The partial LERs values were significantly (p<0.05) affected by the intercropping. The total LER values showed greater yield advantage of 89% and 92% intercropping of Amaranth and Jute Mallow over component sole crops during the first and second cropping, respectively. Amaranth and Jute Mallow are both compatible vegetable species for complementary intercropping type of cropping system in the humid tropics

Keywords

Amaranth; Jute Mallow; Intercropping; humid tropics