Effect of cassava planting patterns on the growth and yield of cassava/maize/melon intercrop and relayed cowpea

Abstract

The effect of four cassava planting patterns on the growth and yield of cassava/maize/melon intercrop and relayed cowpea was investigated in the Teaching and Research Farm of theUniversityofIbadan.  The cassava (cultivar 30572) planting patterns (treatments) used include 1 x 1m (10,000 plants/ha), 1.5 x 0.75m (8,800 plants/ha), 2 x 1m triangular planting (7,500 plants/ha) and 3 x 1.5 triangular planting (4,400 plants/ha).

      The results showed that the patterns did not affect maize height, grain yield cassava leaf area, height and stem girth, length of tuber and number of roots per plants.  However, the freshroot yield (29 ton/ha) from cassava planted at 7,500 plants/ha (2 x 1m triangular planting) was significantly higher than those obtained from other planting patterns.  The cowpea grain yield (1004.06kg/ha) in cassava planted at 4,400 plants/ha was significantly higher than those in other planting arrangements