ABSTRACT

 Studies on crop mixture have recently focused on cereal-vegetable intercropping system, such as maize-okra, maize-tomato, maize-leafy- green, maize- melon, maize-cauliflower amongst others. This paper, which is a field study was undertaken to investigate the yield of Maize when intercrop with melon and okra grown in an intercropped system. All data were statistically treated using the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for randomized complete block design and the Least Significant Difference (LSD) was used for mean separation (P-0.05) following the procedure of Steel and Torrie (1980). Intercropping okra with Maize resulted in reduced weed infestation, especially of broadleaf weeds. Comparing the mean yields, there was an increase on intercrop of maize/melon compared to sole cropping with least significant difference of 0.665 at (P<0.05). Compared to that obtained from monocropped (sole maize), therewas reduction in grain yield of maize/okraintercrop giving least significant difference of 2.897. Hence maize yield was significantly affected by intercropping with okra.The competition for growth resources such as light could have contributed to the decrease in grain yield of maize and okra intercrop. Also, there was greater reduction in the yield of maize/melon/okra intercrop compared to that of the sole maize, hence the maize yield was significantly affected by maize/melon/okra intercrop at (P<0.05). The greater soil moisture conservation under intercropping could have promoted a greater absorption of soil nutrients. This view agreed with Ogindo and Walker (2005) who reported that intercrops have been. identified to conserve water. Intercropping maize, melon and okra gave land equivalent ratio (LER) values of 1.75, indicating that higher productivity per unit area was achieved by growing the three crops together than by growing them separately. With these LER values, 75% oflands were saved, which could be used for other agricultural purposes.

Key Words: Maize; Melon; Okra; Intercropping; maize yield; Nigeria