Effect of Spatial Arrangement on Growth of Okra in Maize/Okra Intercrop in Kilifi, Kenya

Abstract

Okra is an important vegetable cultivated for both local and export market in Kilifi County. The demand for the vegetable has recently been increasing. On the other hand, maize is the staple food crop for most households in Kenya, but yields have been on the decline due to limitations of poor soils, unpredictable rainfall and its cultivation in small parcels of land, resulting in poor yields and low income that exacerbate food insecurity and poverty in the County. In Kilifi, the two crops are intercropped in random mixtures and with inconsistencies in planting density.  Field trials were undertaken during short rains (October 2020 - January 2021) and long rains season (April - July 2021), at Industrial Crops Research Institute (ICRI) research farm situated at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) - Mtwapa in Kilifi County, Kenya. The objective was to evaluate the effect of spatial arrangement on growth of okra in maize/okra intercropping system in Kilifi County. There were four treatments consisting of sole maize, sole okra, maize/okra intercrop arranged in alternating rows of 1:2, and maize/okra intercrop arranged in 2:2 patterns, replicated three times in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Data collected in maize included: plant height, number of days to 50% tasseling, number of maize plants per plot; and number of leaves per maize plant. Data in okra included plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, number of branches per plant, number of plants per plot, and days to 50% flowering. Okra plant height, number of okra leaves per plant, okra leaf area, number of branches per plant, number of days to 50% flowering, were significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05) by spatial arrangement. Intercropping increased okra plant height after the sixth week. Leaf area, number of leaves and number of branches per plant, were negatively affected by intercropping. Intercropped okra took longer days to flower compared to sole okra. Maize is more competitive compared to okra. However, both two arrangements can be suitable for intercropping okra with maize.