GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORGHUM AS INFLUENCED BY POPULATION DENSITY AND TIME OF INTRODUCTION OF COMPONENT OKRA
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Date
2025-02
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Abstract
A field trial was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Kwara State University,
Malete, and the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM) to investigate
the growth, yield, and intercropping advantage as influenced by population density and
time of introduction in sorghum/okra intercropping. Four population densities of okra
(100 %, 75 %, 50 %, and 25 %) were intercropped with the full population of sorghum at
the same time (ST), two weeks before (2WBP) and two weeks after (2WAP). Sole
sorghum and okra were included in the treatments as a check. The treatments were
arranged as 3 x 6 factorial combinations in a randomized complete block in a split-plot
and replicated thrice. Plant height, leaf area, grain, and fruit yield of sorghum and okra
were influenced by population density and time of introduction. Regardless of population
ratios, the yield of sorghum increased as the population density of component okra
decreased and with delayed in the time of introduction. The lowest grain yields 1,534.58
kg/ha and 1,327.83 kg/ha respectively for Malete and NCAM were obtained where the
full population ratio of both crops was intercropped. Intercropping advantage as
measured by land equivalent ratio (LER) and land equivalent coefficient (LEC) indices
demonstrated intercropping advantage at all population ratios and time of introduction.
All population ratios and time of introduction tested demonstrated economic advantage as
observed in positive monetary advantage index (MAI) values. Simultaneous planting and
planting sorghum two weeks before okra at a full population of both crops is
recommended for adoption in sorghum/okra intercropping.