Effect of organic fertilizer (cocoa pod husk) on okra and maize production under okra/maize intercrop in Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study determined effects of cocoa pod husk (CPH) fertilizer rates on okra and maize performance in okra/maize intercrop at Uhonmora, Edo State, Nigeria. Four levels of fertilizer: 0, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 t ha-1 and seven cropping patterns: okra sole at 0.60×0.75 m, 0.90×0.75 m, 1.20×0.75 m, sole maize at 0.3×0.75 m, okra intercropped with maize at 0.60×0.75 m, 0.90×0.75 m, 1.20×0.75 m with 1, 2 and 3 maize stands respectively between 2 okra stands for 28 treatments in a split plot design in three replicates. Fertilizer resulted to significant (p≤0.05) increased okra and maize yields that were optimum at 0.90×0.75 m with CPH applied at 1.0 t ha-1. The land equivalent ratio (LER) values were higher than unity in okra/maize intercrop but the aggressivity values were negative when okra was planted at 1.20×0.75 m, which indicates unhealthy competitions between the component crops. The monetary values (MV) were optimum when okra was planted at 0.90×0.75 m and was recommended. Key words: Cropping patterns, economic value, growth factors, optimum revenue, soil fertility maintenance.