COMPONENT INTERACTIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PLANTAIN INTERCROPPED WITH FLUTED PUMPKIN

For two consecutive cropping seasons, plantain (Musa sp. AAB) plots containing 833, 1250, 1600 and 2500 plants ha-1 were intercropped with fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook.f.) at Ibadan in south-western Nigeria. Fluted pumpkin was intercropped at a population of 10,000 plants ha^-1. The aim was to determine the optimum population of plantain compatible with an intercrop of fluted pumpkin in home gardens. Increasing the population of plantain significantly increased its Leaf Area Index (LAI) and fruit yield. It significantly decreased light transmission to the lower storey and decreased weed infestation in the plantain-fluted pumpkin intercrop. Plantain population did not significantly affect the height of plantain or fresh weight of vines of fluted pumpkin harvested for sale. Net Present Values (NPV) of plantain-fluted pumpkin intercrop containing 833, 1250, 1600 and 2500 plantain stands ha^-1 were, N 272200, 330000, 365700 and 319300, respectively. Since NPV decreased when more than 1600 plantain stands ha^-1 were intercropped with fluted pumpkin, 1600 stands ha^-1 is considered the optimum plantain population to intercrop with fluted pumpkin for optimum productivity in home gardens.