Growth and yield responses of pawpaw varieties (Carica Papaya l.) intercropped with okra and cucumber

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in 2004 and 2005 to investigate the responses of two Carica papaya L varieties (Homestead and Sunrise solo) to three cropping systems: sole pawpaw, pawpaw + okra and pawpaw + cucumber using 10 t/ha organo-mineral fertilizer as basal treatment. The objective of the study was to determine the compatibility of pawpaw with okra and cucumber vegetables. Intercropping significantly decreased pawpaw plant height, stem girth, number of leaves, leaf area and canopy spread in the first year while it sustained LER. The LER, growth and yield in both years indicated that Sunrise solo was more compatible with cucumber and Homestead selection with okra. Significant differences were recorded between Sunrise solo number of fruits/plant, 58.89 and Homestead, 38.44 and the fruit yield/plant, 22.35 t/ha respectively. Okra significantly depressed fruit yield of both varieties more than cucumber with sole, +okra and +cucumber crop mixtures recording 24.32, 20.27 and 22.55 ton/ha under Sunrise solo and 42.66, 24.54 and 39.16 ton/ha under Homestead respectively. The result should show that papaya could be inter-cropped with vegetable at the early vegetative stages to sustain land utilization as well as total productivity.