October 21, 2020
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An experiment was conducted at Ayepe, Osun state, Nigeria to determine the appropriate cassava density in association with plantain in order to achieve maximum yield and economic retains. Plantain at a density of 1,666 plants / ha was intercropped with cassava at three population densities (5 ,000; 7,000; and 10,000 plants /ha). Both crops were also grown alone at their highest densities in the intercrop. The results showed that at the highest cassava population, plantain shooting was delayed by 89 days while the numbers of fingers/bunch and number of hands / bunch were significantly reduced in the intercropping system. Bunch yield was reduced by 44 and 56% at 7,000 and 10,000 cassava plants /ha. Respectively. Cassava tuber yield increased with increasing population. The total relative yield of the two crops was greater than 1.0 in all the intercrops. At present price level ( N10 /kg for plantain and N0.90/kg for cassava) plantain intercropped with cassava at 5,000 plants/ha gave the highest crop return.