Effect of Time of Introduction of Legumes into Cassava on the Productivity of Cassava in Cassava-Legume based Intercropping Systems

Background and Objective: The time of sowing component crops is an important management variable that can improve productivity and increase land equivalent ratio in intercropping systems. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the time of introduction of legumes into cassava on cassava productivity.

Study Design: The experiment was a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: Field trials were conducted in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 cropping seasons in three agro-climatic zones.

Methodology: The treatments consisted of seven cropping associations, two cassava architectures, two spatial arrangements of cassava, and two introduction times of the legume. The cassava was grown on flat land and the legumes were inserted in between the rows of the cassava. The introduction of the legumes were done in two stages, namely: simultaneous introduction in which the cassava and the legumes were planted at the same time and late introduction in which, the cassava was introduced four weeks after the cassava was planted.

Results: The result shows that values for both yield and growth parameters of cassava were higher when the legumes were introduced four weeks after the establishment of the cassava. Also, the land equivalent ratios for both times of introductions were greater than one and were higher when the legumes were introduced four weeks after the establishment of the cassava.

Conclusion: For higher productivity of cassava in a cassava-legume-based intercropping system, the introduction of the legumes into the cassava should be delayed for at least four weeks after the cassava is established.