Yield Response of Cassava-Okra Intercrop as Influenced by Population Densities and Time of Introducing Okra in Makurdi, Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted from June to March in years 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 at the Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, to evaluate the yield response of cassava-okra intercrop as influenced by population densities and time of introducing okra, as well as assessing the yield advantages of the intercropping system. The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial combination of treatments, fitted in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The population densities of okra (33,333, 40,000 and 50,000 plants ha-1 equivalent) into cassava constituted the main plots, while the time of introducing okra into cassava (okra sown at the same time with cassava in mid June; okra introduced into cassava in mid July and okra introduced into cassava in mid August) were assigned to the subplots. Results of study showed that sowing okra at the same time as cassava in mid June, at the population density of 33,333 plants ha-1 produced the highest yields of cassava (46.8 t ha-1 and 39.2 t ha-1 respectively in years 2013 and 2014) and okra (7.7 t ha-1 and 7.5 t ha-1 respectively in years 2013 and 2014) in a cassava-okra intercrop. This level of interaction also gave the highest total intercrop yields, highest land equivalent coefficient (LEC) values, highest land equivalent ratio (LER) values of 1.86 and 1.84 and highest percentage (%) land saved (46.2 % and 45.7 %) respectively recorded in years 2013 and 2014. The implication of study showed that it is most advantageous having both crops in intercrop when okra was sown at the same time as cassava in mid June, at the population density of 33,000 plants ha-1. This should therefore be recommended for Makurdi location, Nigeria.