Authors : I.M. Ojeifo , I.O.O. Aiyelaagbe and M.A. Jolaoso
Abstract: The benefit of intercropping in the nursery is yet to receive the necessary research attention. Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of intercropping seed melon at various spacings with citrus rootstock seedlings in the nursery. The intercropped seed melon did not affect the growth and development of the companion citrus seedlings at various patterns of planting melon. The citrus rootstock seedlings grown alone or intercropped with melon, produced plant girth, which ranged from 0.53 to 0.57 cm and 0.84 to 0.99 cm at 14 and 28 weeks after planting citrus in the nursery, respectively. The yields of seed melon grown in mixture with the citrus seedlings were significantly different. Melon suppressed weeds more with closer spacings of sowing and produced significantly lower weed spectrum and weed rating than sole crops of citrus seedling. The study showed that intercrop of melon at the spacings of 2x1 m, 2x2 m and 4x2 m used in this study are beneficial and tolerable for growing seed melon in association with citrus rootstock seedlings before budding.
I.M. Ojeifo , I.O.O. Aiyelaagbe and M.A. Jolaoso , 2007. Intercropping Citrus Rootstock Seedlings with Seed Melon in the Nursery. Agricultural Journal, 2: 60-63.