Abstract:
A pot experiment was conducted under green-house condition to evaluate the effect of
mono-cropping and intercropping on growth, yield and soil microbial activity of
sunhemp, okra and ground nut. Six different crop combinations; Sunhemp (Tl), Okra
(T2), Ground nut (T3), Sunhemp + Okra (T4), Sunhemp + Ground nut (T5), Okra +
Ground nut (T6) were tested and maintained two plants/pot (30cm diameter). Complete
’"Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates was used. Statistical analysis was
carried out using Duncan’s multiple range Test of SAS program (9.1.3). Number of
pods, Number of leaves, Pod/seed weight (wet/dry), Wet/dry weight of stem per plant,
plant height and root length were measured. Soil ipicrobial activity was measured
according to the CO2 evolution method. Okra grew better when intercropped with
ground nut or sunhemp (legumes) than a mono-crop. Significantly higher yield were
recorded from okra when grown with ground nut (53%) and sunhemp (17.39%) as
compared to mono-cropped plants. Significantly higher yield (112.37%) was recorded in
sunhemp when growing with ground nut as comparing to mono-cropped. Ground nut
produced 128.61% more yield when intercropped with sunhemp as compared to mono
cropped ground nut. When legumes grow as inter-crop with another legume significantly
increase the yield than a mono-crop. Intercropping legumes (sunhemp or ground nut)
with okra is more beneficial for legume as well as okra. Significantly higher microbial
activity (850 CO2 mg/kg of soil) was observed in sunhemp and okra grown as inter-crop.
