Evaluation of yield and yield components of Maize (Zea mays L.) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) intercropping system at Makurdi, Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted from July to October during 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons at the Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria, to evaluate the yield and yield components of maize and okra in mixture and to assess the advantages of the intercropping system. The three cropping systems (sole maize, sole okra and the intercrop of maize and okra) constituted the treatments, which were laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results of study showed that maize yield was not significantly affected by intercropping with okra. However, intercrop okra yield was significantly (P≤0.05) depressed by 24.5 % and 25.9 % respectively, in 2009 and 2010 compared to monocropped okra. Total intercrop yield was greater than the component crop yield, either planted as sole or in mixture. Intercropping okra and maize gave land equivalent ratio (LER) values of 1.84 and 1.80 respectively, for years 2009 and 2010, indicating that higher productivity per unit area was achieved by growing the two crops together than by growing them separately. With these LER values, 45.7 % and 44.4 % of land was saved respectively, in 2009 and 2010, which could be used for other agricultural purposes. In addition, maize was about three-fifths (3/5) as competitive as okra, indicating that both crops are complimentary and suitable in mixture.