Effects of Age of Oil Palm on Growth and Yields of Cassava, Maize and Pepper Intercrops in the Alleys of Oil Palm of Different Ages at NIFOR Ohosu Experimental Farm Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the growth and yield response of cassava, maize, and pepper as influenced by age of oil palm of different ages within the available resources (nutrients and water). The cassavas, pepper, and maize were planted into existing oil palm plantations of different ages of 2, 3, and 5 years old at NIFOR Demonstration Farm, Ohosu, Edo State. The experiment design was a complete block design replicated 3 times. The data collected were number of leaves, plant height, leaf area, root and shoot biomass, cob weight, number of seed or fruit or tuber/plant, seed or fruit or tuber weight, seed or fruit or tuber yield, harvest index (HI), canopy spread and average soil and air temperature. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results of the statistical analysis of data collected show that the effects of interaction between the oil palms and component crops yields were significant (P≤ 0.5) in terms of growths, developments, and yields of component crops. Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) production of oil palm was not affected by the intercropped food crops. Oil palm fresh fruit bunch obtained from 5 years old palms was 98 bunches/plot.  The average yield recorded from the component crops sowed into oil palms plots across the ages ( 2, 3, and 5) years were: cassava 4.38kg / plot, maize 0.485kg / plot, and pepper 39.3g /plot respectively. The yield obtained from cassava 2, 3, and 5 years old were 5.42kg, 4.81kg, and 4.23kg/ plot respectively, maize 510.5g, 500g, and 444.4g/stand for 2, 3 and 5 years old palm plots respectively and pepper 41.3g, 39.1g, and 36.6g/ plot from 2, 3 and 5 years of oil palm. The 2 years old oil palm plots recorded Highest followed by 3 and 5 years old oil palm plots.