Abstract

This study was conducted from March to July 2020, at the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Research Farm, University of Buea, South West Region, Cameroon. It had as objectives to: determine which planting distance produces the best growth yields of egusi when intercropped with maize in the Buea agro-ecological zone while investigating their inherent properties such as vien length, number of leaves, amongst other growth parameters. There were four treatments, replicated four times to give a sample size of 16 using a random complete block design (RCBD). T1= 75cmX150cm T2= 150cmX150cm, T3= 225cmX225cm, and T4= 300cmX300cm. Data of the growth parameters were carried out for six weeks starting from two weeks after sowing (WAS).

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Maize (Zea mays) is a monocot, in the family of Poaceae. It is the third most cultivated cereal crop, grown in the world. It is a stable food and provides a high amount of carbohydrate to the body. Maize is an erect, herbaceous annual that can grow to reach an average height of 3 meters.

Egusi (Cucumeropsis mannii) is a tropical crop, mostly grown in many parts of Africa. Egusi features prominently in the farming system of many farms in Cameroon. Egusi is mostly cultivated as an intercrop for its oil seed which is also introduced as live mulch to control weeds as it provides early vegetative cover which naturally suppresses weed growth during the initial growth of the component crops (Anuebunwa, 2000).

The reasons for practicing intercropping by farmers include the production of higher total yields from a given area of land, insurance against crop failure, reduction in the levels of insect pests, diseases and weeds and better use of growth resources among others (Okigbo and Greenland, 1976; Okpara and Omaliko, 1995; Njoku and Muoneke, 2008).

1.2 Project Significance

The aim of this work is to determine which planting distance is optimum or best for intercropping maize and egusi by accessing their growth parameters such as plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, and yield parameters such as the diameter of the egusi fruit and maize cob, weight of the egusi seeds and maize cob.

1.3 Problem Statement

Many small landholders depend on agriculture and have a few alternative sources of income (Tingem et al., 2008). This strongly suggest the need for research and pilot studies to characterize and quantify the effect of climate variability and change at different spatial scales in order to assist farmers reduce the risk. Many smallholder farmers who practice intercropping maize and egusi often grow the crops with different planting distances. These planting distances are made based on the judgment of the farmers. Due to this, the planting distances of these crops vary from one farmer to the other. Most farmers tend to plant these crops to close to each other, reducing the planting distances between these crops, hence increasing competition between the crops for nutrients, water and sunlight. On the other hand, the farmers can plant the intercrop at very wide distances which reduce the yield per hectare of the farm. This tends to affect the yields of the crops negatively. This research will stand as a guide to identify which planting distance is optimum for intercropping maize and egusi.

1.4 Rationale

Null hypothesis: none of the planting distances have a significant effect on the growth and yield in intercropping maize and egusi.

Alternative hypothesis: one, two, three or all of the planting distances have a significant effect on the growth and yield of intercropping maize and egusi.

1.5 Objectives

1.5.1 General Objectives

The general objective  of  this  study  is  to  determine  the  optimum  planting  distance  for intercropping maize and egusi in relation to growth and yield of both crops.

1.5.2 Specific Objectives

1. To determine the effect of different planting distances on both crops.
2. To investigate the growth parameters; stem length, stem diameter, leaf area, leaf length of both crops based different planting distances.
3. To investigate the yield parameters of maize and egusi; diameter of the fruits, number of flowers, number of fruits per plant and the weight of the egusi seeds, diameter of the maize cobs, weight of the maize cobs, based on different planting distances.