Intercropping oil palm (Elaeis guneensis) with cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) on windows and nonwindows in southern Nigeria

Abstract

Yields of intercropped oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) were assessed at Okomu (6°25'N, 5°12'E), near Benin City, southern Nigeria. Yields were assessed during the fifth and sixth year after the establishment of oil palm. The annual yield of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) was 12.9 Mg/ha on windrows, and 8.5 Mg/ha on non-windrows. For Xanthosoma, the average annual yield of cormel was 11.3 Mg/ha on windrows, and 7.5 Mg/ha on non-windrows. The performance of Xanthosoma under the canopy shade was good and this suggests that it would tolerate oil palm shade at the early stages of palm establishment. Also, the oil palm yield was comparable with the expected average yield in the area. Owners of small-scale oil palm plantations in the region are encouraged to maximize land use and profit by intercropping oil palm with Xanthosoma during the first five years of palm establishment or when a shade-tolerant crop is required as an intercrop within the five years.