Evaluation of spatial arrangement of legumes on weed suppression in cassava production

Abstract

Cassava, the most important root crop in the tropics, is intercropped with legumes due to the early growth of the legumes to suppress weeds. Field experiments were carried out from September, 2013 to September, 2014 to evaluate the effects of spatial arrangement of legume intercrop on the suppression of weeds in cassava cropping system. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Treatments consisted of combinations of five spatial arrangements of three legumes (cowpea, groundnut and soybean). Spatial arrangement of one row of cassava alternating with two rows of legumes-controlled weeds more efficiently and also gave the best yields of both cassava and legumes. The results also indicated that spatial arrangement is important in determining the productivity of the cassava-legume intercrop system. Since subsistence farmers are resource poor and weeds are a major problem in crop production systems, intercropping cassava with legumes will improve productivity of the system and improve the diet of the farmers from the associated legumes