Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon
BACKGROUND Intercropping can help reduce insect pest populations. However, the results of intercropping can be pest- and crop-species specific, with varying effects on crop yield, and pest suppression success. In Cameroon, okra vegetable is often grown in intercropped fields and sown with large d...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Wiley
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83469 |
| _version_ | 1855542396483272704 |
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| author | Singh, A. Weisser, W.W. Hanna, R. Houmgny, R. Zytynska, S.E. |
| author_browse | Hanna, R. Houmgny, R. Singh, A. Weisser, W.W. Zytynska, S.E. |
| author_facet | Singh, A. Weisser, W.W. Hanna, R. Houmgny, R. Zytynska, S.E. |
| author_sort | Singh, A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | BACKGROUND
Intercropping can help reduce insect pest populations. However, the results of intercropping can be pest- and crop-species specific, with varying effects on crop yield, and pest suppression success. In Cameroon, okra vegetable is often grown in intercropped fields and sown with large distances between planting rows (∼ 2 m). Dominant okra pests include cotton aphids, leaf beetles and whiteflies. In a field experiment, we intercropped okra with maize and bean in different combinations (okra monoculture, okra–bean, okra–maize and okra–bean–maize) and altered plant densities (high and low) to test for the effects of diversity, crop identity and planting distances on okra pests, their predators and yield.
RESULTS
We found crop identity and plant density, but not crop diversity to influence okra pests, their predators and okra yield. Only leaf beetles decreased okra yield and their abundance reduced at high plant density. Overall, okra grown with bean at high density was the most economically profitable combination.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that when okra is grown at higher densities, legumes (e.g. beans) should be included as an additional crop. Intercropping with a leguminous crop can enhance nitrogen in the soil, benefiting other crops, while also being harvested and sold at market for additional profit. Manipulating planting distances and selecting plants based on their beneficial traits may thus help to eliminate yield gaps in sustainable agriculture. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace83469 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publishDateRange | 2017 |
| publishDateSort | 2017 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| publisherStr | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace834692023-09-12T16:51:35Z Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon Singh, A. Weisser, W.W. Hanna, R. Houmgny, R. Zytynska, S.E. intercropping plant desnsity pests predators yield production legume crop okro BACKGROUND Intercropping can help reduce insect pest populations. However, the results of intercropping can be pest- and crop-species specific, with varying effects on crop yield, and pest suppression success. In Cameroon, okra vegetable is often grown in intercropped fields and sown with large distances between planting rows (∼ 2 m). Dominant okra pests include cotton aphids, leaf beetles and whiteflies. In a field experiment, we intercropped okra with maize and bean in different combinations (okra monoculture, okra–bean, okra–maize and okra–bean–maize) and altered plant densities (high and low) to test for the effects of diversity, crop identity and planting distances on okra pests, their predators and yield. RESULTS We found crop identity and plant density, but not crop diversity to influence okra pests, their predators and okra yield. Only leaf beetles decreased okra yield and their abundance reduced at high plant density. Overall, okra grown with bean at high density was the most economically profitable combination. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that when okra is grown at higher densities, legumes (e.g. beans) should be included as an additional crop. Intercropping with a leguminous crop can enhance nitrogen in the soil, benefiting other crops, while also being harvested and sold at market for additional profit. Manipulating planting distances and selecting plants based on their beneficial traits may thus help to eliminate yield gaps in sustainable agriculture. 2017-10 2017-09-12T09:22:30Z 2017-09-12T09:22:30Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83469 en Limited Access Wiley Singh, A., Weisser, W.W., Hanna, R., Houmgny, R. & Zytynska, S.E. (2017). Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon. Pest Management Science, 73(10), 2017-2027. |
| spellingShingle | intercropping plant desnsity pests predators yield production legume crop okro Singh, A. Weisser, W.W. Hanna, R. Houmgny, R. Zytynska, S.E. Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon |
| title | Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon |
| title_full | Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon |
| title_short | Reduce pests, enhance production: benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in Cameroon |
| title_sort | reduce pests enhance production benefits of intercropping at high densities for okra farmers in cameroon |
| topic | intercropping plant desnsity pests predators yield production legume crop okro |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/83469 |
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