Performance of upland rice as influenced by varying row ratios in rice/okra intercrop

ABSTRACT

Intercropping system of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is becoming popular among farmers in Nigeria, but there is little or no information on the appropriate row ratio for intercropping rice with okra. A field experiment was therefore conducted from 2015 to 2017 at Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ikole Teaching and Research Farm to investigate the appropriate row ratio and compatibility of upland rice varieties (NERICA 7 and NERICA 8) and the farmers’ rice Igbemo (Local) intercropped with okra (NHAe47-4). The trial was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The treatments consisted of sole-crop rice, sole-crop okra, two rows of rice to one row of okra (2:1), three rows of rice to one row of okra (3:1), and four rows of rice to one row of okra (4:1). Analysis of variance showed a significant influence of planting ratios on yield and yield components of rice varieties of rice/okra intercropping. Sole rice had significantly (P < 0.01) fewer grains per panicle, and lower panicle weight, grain weight and grain yield compared with intercropping ratios of 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1. The 4:1 ratio had significantly (P < 0.01) higher grain weight and yield of rice than 3:1 and 2:1 ratios. Intercropping system with four rows of rice to one row of okra gave the highest yield of rice; and was, therefore, recommended to farmers engaged in intercropping upland rice and okra.

KEYWORDS:

• Abelmoschus esculentus
• compatibility
• intercropping system
• Oryza sativa
• yield components

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Dr. Nwilene E. Francis, Head of Nigeria Station of African Rice Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, for supplying the planting materials for the project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.