THE EFFECT OF MIXED CROPPING AND SEEDLING AGE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PEPPERS (Capsicum species)

THE EFFECT OF MIXED CROPPING AND SEEDLING AGE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PEPPERS (Capsicum species)

Abstract:

Two experiments were designed to study crop mixtures involving maize and pepper. Seedling age treatments were also included. In 1980 at Dangora, pepper was mixed with maize and cowpea planted in the sequence maize-peppercowpea under rainfed condition. Three maize spacing treatments of 360, 270 and 180cm. were used. In 1981 at Samaru, pepper was intercropped with maize in the dry season under irrigation. Maize was spaced at 240, 180 and 120cm. Variability was great in both experiments. In 1980, mixed cropping had an adverse effect on chilli pepper yield and the relative yield totals (R Y Ts) were less than 1. In monetary value, however, mixing was better than sole pepper but not as good as sole maize. Transplanting at 6 weeks gave higher monetary return than at 8 and 10 weeks with no significance between 8 and 10. In 1981, sole pepper had higher monetary value than sole maize and most of the mixed treatments were intermediate. For treatments with pepper transplanted at 7 weeks old R Y T was about 1 but for the 94 weeks old transplants R Y T was 1.3, possibly indicating a benefit from mixing. The late transplanting time performed better in crop mixtures but not in sole pepper, though the interaction was not statistically significant. Leaf cover trends were similar in sole crop and mixtures but the mixtures generally had greater leaf cover than the mid-point between sole maize and sole pepper. Cropping pattern and seedling age had no effect on the proportion of flowers that set fruits. Maximum fruit set of 41 – 46% was from flowers opening 103 – 115 days from sowing of pepper.

THE EFFECT OF MIXED CROPPING AND SEEDLING AGE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF PEPPERS (Capsicum species)