Performance of Cucumber (Cucumis spp.) as Influenced by Row Arrangement and Weeding Regime Grown in Intercrop with Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench.] in Sudan Savanna

Abstract

Field trials were conducted during the rainy season of 2018 and 2019 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, to evaluate the performance of Cucumber in an okra-cucumber intercrop under different row arrangements and weeding regimes in the Sudan savanna agroecological zone. The experiment utilized a factorial combination of three-row arrangements of okra and cucumber (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1) and four weeding regimes (W0, W1, W2, and WF) arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Weeding regimes were assigned to the main plots, while row arrangements were allocated to the subplots. The advantages of intercropping in crop production in comparison with pure cropping are due to the interaction between components in intercrops and the difference in competition for the use of environmental resources. It is believed that 1:1 and 1:2 row arrangements helped the okra plant to utilize its energy properly in branching because there was not much competition for light nor were there overlapping from adjacent okra plants within the row. Cucumber performance was assessed based on parameters such as the number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, and fruit yield per hectare. Based on the results of the present study, a 1:2 row arrangement with two weddings should be adopted to produce cucumber in okra/cucumber intercrop in the Sudan Savanna agroecology.