Soil nutrient concentrations and crop yields under sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) intercropping in Swaziland

Ossom, E.M. . Crop Production Dept.; Kuhlase, L.M. . Dept. of Agriculture; Rhykerd, R.L. . Crop Production Dept.

Soil nutrient concentrations and crop yields under sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) intercropping in Swaziland

2009

Ossom, E.M. (University of Swaziland, Luyengo (Swaziland). Crop Production Dept.) | Kuhlase, L.M. (Illinois State Univ., Normal (USA). Dept. of Agriculture) | Rhykerd, R.L. (University of Swaziland, Luyengo (Swaziland). Crop Production Dept.)

A field experiment was conducted in 2007/2008 cropping season to assess the effects of interplanting a fixed population of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through a varied population of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] on soil nutrient concentrations and crop yields. Results showed significant (P less than 0.05) differences in the concentrations of potassium (161.5-239.0 mg per kg), nitrate nitrogen (3.0-4.8 mg per kg) and total nitrogen (0.14-0.19%). There were non-significant differences in marketable tuber yields (25.2-28.6 tones per ha). There were non-significant differences in groundnut pod yield, though the sole crop yielded higher (2,001.0 kg per ha) than the intercrops (1,382.0-1,366.9 kg per ha). Land equivalent ratio showed greater benefit (LER, 1.67) in the lower sweet potato population of 16,667 plants ha-1 than in the higher sweet potato population of 33,333 plants per ha (LER, 1.62). It is recommended that small-scale fa rmers intercrop sweet potato at 16,667 plants per ha, with groundnut at 200,000 plants per ha.

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