MAIZE (Zea mays L.) - OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench ) INTERCROP AS AFFECTED BY CROPPING PATTERN IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Trials were conducted at the Kogi State University Research Farm (Longitude 7⁰ 06¹N, 6⁰ 43¹E) Anyigba, Nigeria, in the Southern Guinea Savanna ecological zone during 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons. The experiment, a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications had a variety of maize intercropped with a variety of okra at one stand of maize alternated with one stand of okra; one stand of maize alternated with two stands of okra; one row of maize alternated one row of okra; one row of maize alternated with two rows of okra in addition to sole crops. Results of statistical analysis reveal significant (P< 0.05) influence of cropping pattern on final heights of maize and okra, total number of okra pods harvested/ha, total pod weight/ha and maize yield. The treatment did not however, influence leaf number in maize and okra, pod length and diameter in okra. In all the systems investigated Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs) were less than unity except for 1:2 alternate rows, thus cropping maize and okra at 1:2 alternate rows is recommended for farmers engaged in this practice.