Effects of time of introducing okra on crop growth and yield in a cassava-okra intercrop

Abstract

Two field trials were conducted in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate the effect of time of introducing okra into a mixture with cassava (cv. Odongbo and TMS 30572) on their growth, yield and their effects in the microenvironment. Okra was planted at the same time with cassava and at two weeks after cassava. Randomized complete block design in a split-plot arrangement with three replicates was used. Main plot was sole cassava, sole okra, odongbo/okra and TMS3 05 72/okra, while sub-plot was time of introducing okra into cassava. Soil temperature was significantly reduced (pd"0.05) by 2^.C and soil moisture increased by 4-8g/kg when okra was planted at the same time with cassava relative to when okra was planted two weeks after cassava. Vegetative characters and fruit yield of okra were not significantly affected by intercropping with cassava. However, there was significant reduction (46 %) in okra leaf area index (LAI), number of days to flowering (5-6 days) and days to harvesting (3-4 days), harvest duration (8 days) and fruit yield (24-26 %) when it was introduced two weeks after planting cassava. LAI and tuber yield of cassava increased significantly by 28 and 15 %, respectively when okra was introduced two weeks after planting cassava compared with when planted at the same time with cassava. Introducing okra at the same time with cassava in the mixture was more beneficial to okra, than introducing it two weeks after. But it was detrimental to the growth and yield of cassava.