Economic analysis of intercropping okra with legumes
A field study was carried out in a vegetable research field of the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria during the late raining season of 2015 to determine the appropriate okra/legume-based cropping system that will increase crop yield and farmer’s income. The experime...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Belgrade - Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agricultural Sciences (Belgrade) |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-8109/2017/1450-81091702193A.pdf |
| Summary: | A field study was carried out in a vegetable research field of the National
Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria during the late raining
season of 2015 to determine the appropriate okra/legume-based cropping system
that will increase crop yield and farmer’s income. The experiment was
arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three (3)
replicates. The treatments comprised intercropping okra with groundnut or
cowpea planted at varying spacings (60 cm x 30 cm, 60 cm x 40 cm, 60 cm x 50
cm and 60 cm x 60cm). Okra was planted at a spacing of 60 cm x 40 cm, the
plot size was 3 m x 2.4 m (7.4 m2). Data collected was subjected to analysis
of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using the least
significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% probability level. Economic
analysis of the cropping mixture was carried out using gross margin analysis,
monetary advantage index and benefit to cost ratio analysis. Results revealed
that the land equivalent ratio (LER) of 1.62 was recorded in okra/groundnut
at 60 cm x 40 cm and LER of 1.74 was observed in okra/cowpea at 60 cm x 30
cm. Okra/cowpea intercropping system spaced at 60 cm x 30 cm was the most
remunerative (N859,192/ha), followed by okra/cowpea spaced at 60 cm x 50 cm
(N744,212/ha) while okra/cowpea spaced at 60 cm x 60 cm was the least
remunerative. The highest gross margin of N2,188,961/ha was obtained in
okra/groundnut spaced at 60 cm x 40 cm. The least return was obtained in
okra/groundnut spaced at 60 cm x 60 cm (N700,103/ha). The economic analysis
revealed that okra/cowpea spaced at 60 cm x 30 cm produced the highest gross
margin of N859,192/ha and monetary advantage index of N450,447/ha while
okra/groundnut spaced at 60 cm x 40 cm gave the highest gross margin of
N2,188,961/ha and monetary advantage index of N924,642/ha. |
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| ISSN: | 1450-8109 2406-0968 |