Growth and early yield of cashew intercropped with food crops in northern Ghana

摘要

A field trial aimed at investigating the agronomic performance and profitability of intercropping cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L.) with food crops during the establishment phase was carried out at Bole in the Guinea savannah agro-ecological zone. The treatments included sole cashew, cashew + groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.), cashew + maize (Zea mays L.), cashew + sorghum ( Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench), cashew + yam ( Dioscorea alata L.), cashew + sorghum in rotation with groundnut, and cashew + groundnut in rotation with maize and were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. Growth and early yield of cashew and net returns from the food crops were assessed. Intercropping significantly improved the girth of cashew seedlings in the cashew+ maize combination. Height of cashew seedlings was significantly higher in the cashew + maize and cashew + sorghum/groundnut system. Intercropping did not substantially alter early yield of cashew nuts. Economic analysis of the packages, however, indicates that maize and yam intercropping during the establishment phase was profitable. It is therefore advisable to intercrop cashew with yams and maize in northern Ghana during the early period of establishment to generate additional returns to the growers.