Production Returns Of Cassava-Turmeric Inter-Cropping System In Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in the 2019 and 2020 early cropping seasons at the University of Calabar Teaching and Research Farm, Calabar, Nigeria, to assess the profitability of inter-cropping cassava with turmeric. There were seven treatments: sole cassava, sole turmeric, cassava intercropped with turmeric at 66,666; 50,000; 40,000; 35,714 and 28,571 turmeric plants/ha, laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The cost implication of the technology was analyzed by computing the production cost, gross income, gross margin, benefit/cost ratio and percentage net returns of each treatment. Results showed that maximum cost was incurred by cultivating cassava with the highest turmeric density of 66,666 turmeric plants/ha (30 cm x 50 cm spacing of turmeric). The lowest average percentage net return of 29.34 % was obtained from sole turmeric treatment plot. The inter-crop mixture with the lowest turmeric population density of 28,571 plants/ha produced the highest percentage net return of 62.78 % on the 2 year- average, and could therefore be recommended for optimum cassava/turmeric intercrop produc