Row Configuration on Yield and Economics of Okra Intercropped With Eggplant.

Monocropping of okra and eggplant reduces the net return of small-scale farmers in Upper Egypt due to price fluctuation. The effects of row configurations on the yield and economics of intercropping okra cv. Balady and eggplant cvs. Balady Black (BB) and Balady White (BW) were investigated. The row configurations of okra and eggplant were 1:1:1:1 (okra : BB or BW : okra : BB or BW), 1:2:1 (okra : BB or BW : okra), and 1:3 (okra : BB or BW) were tested. Monocropped okra produced the tallest plants at flowering and end of season, highest number and weight of pods/plant, and early and total yields of fresh pods. Among the row configurations the 1:2:1 (okra : eggplant : okra) produced the tallest plants at flowering and at the end of season, highest number and weight of pods/plant, and early and total yields of marketable pods. The row configuration 1:3 (okra : eggplant) had the shortest plants at season end, lowest number and weight of pods/plant, and early and total yields of marketable pods. Monocropped eggplant BB had the tallest plants at flowering and end of season, highest number and weight of fruit/plant, and early and total yields. The row configuration of 1:3 (okra : eggplant) had the greatest number and weight of fruit/plant and early and total yields, whereas the 1:2:1 (okra : eggplant : okra) configuration had the lowest number and weight of fruit/plant and the 1:1:1:1 (okra : eggplant : okra : eggplant) configuration had the highest early and total yields. The land equivalent configuration (LER) was greater than one for all row configurations except for 1:1:1:1 (okra : BB : okra : BB) and 1:2:1 (okra : BB : okra). Aggressiveness values indicated that okra was the dominant crop. The highest net return (30,761.06 Le·ha−1) was obtained when okra was intercropped with eggplant in the 1:3 (okra : BB) configuration; the lowest net return (13,849.70 Le·ha−1) was for monocropped okra; Le is the Egyptian pound where 1 Le = $US0.168. Intercropping offers insurance against single crop failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]