Productivity of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck 'Agege 1') intercropped with cassava

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck ‘Agege 1’) was intercropped with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz ‘TMS 30572’) in a transitional forest zone, Ibadan, Nigeria, for three consecutive cassava cropping seasons. The objective was to determine the productivity of sweet orange intercropped with cassava. Results obtained showed that sweet orange trees planted sole were significantly (P<0.05) superior to intercropped trees in terms of plant height, canopy spread and stem girth. Sole sweet orange flowered earlier than intercropped trees. Similarly, the fruit weight of the sole sweet orange trees at 42 months after transplanting (MATP) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the 0.05 t ha^-1 obtained from intercropped trees. Also tuber yields of cassava planted on ridges 2 and 3 m away from the sweet orange stem were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those on ridges 1 m away from the sweet orange stem. Total soil N increased from 0.2-0.70 g kg^-1 over the three cropping systems, however, P, Ca and K decreased significantly (P<0.05) both in sole planted and intercropped sweet orange plots compared to the pre-planting soil fertility. Revenue from sole planted sweet orange trees at 42 MATP N 48,900 ha^-1 resulting in a deficit of four (N 453,564.00 ha^-1). Conversely, sweet orange intercropped with cassava had a net benefit of (N 274,370.00).