Browsing by Author "Makauki, Margareth Adolf"

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Yield and economic viability of intercropping jute mallow (Corchorus Olitorius) with cereals in selected locations of Tanzania
(2020-04) Makauki, Margareth Adolf
This study was conducted to evaluate the yield and economic viability of intercropping Jute mallow with different cereal crop combinations so that farmers can maximize land use and crop resources for improved crop productivity, nutrition and income. Field experiments in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications were conducted at Dodoma and Arusha. Results indicated that growth parameters of Jute mallow (such as plant height, number of branches and number of leaves) were not affected (p=0.05) when intercropped with either Sorghum or Finger millet. Jute mallow intercropped with Maize suppressed growth and yield performance of Jute mallow, for instance in plant height from 73.69 cm to 44.59 cm and fresh leaf yield from 41.75 g to 30.48 g. Fresh leaf yield of sole Jute mallow (41.75 g) did not significantly (p=0.05) differ from Jute mallow with Sorghum (39.92 g) and Finger millet (37.89 g) intercrops at p=0.05. Yield performance of intercropped cereals decreased (p=0.05) with intercropping. Nutritional content was high (p=0.05) in intercropped Jute mallow combinations than its sole stand in crude protein, potassium, nitrogen and calcium but decreased vitamin C levels with intercropping. The highest Marginal Rate of Return of 4.76 and 4.69 was from Jute mallow intercropped with Maize and with Sorghum in Arusha and Dodoma respectively. Jute mallow-Sorghum intercrop had the highest Land Equivalent Ratio of 1.7 in Dodoma and 1.53 in Arusha. This study recommends Jute mallow as a viable intercrop with cereal especially Sorghum and Maize in Dodoma and Arusha respectively.