Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

Four field experiments were carried out from 2012 to 2013 to assess the influence of different seasons and row arrangements on growth, yield of maize and kenaf and mechanical properties of kenaf fibre in maize/kenaf intercrop at Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Four maize/kenaf component ratios of 1 row of maize alternated with 1 row of kenaf (1:1), 1 row of maize alternated with 2 rows of kenaf (1:2), 2 rows of maize alternated with 1 row of kenaf (2:1) and 2 rows of maize alternated with 2 rows of kenaf (2:2) and two control treatments namely; sole maize and sole kenaf were laid in a randomized complete block design in three replications. Growth parameters such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf area and plant biomass were measured on the component crops from four weeks after planting and subsequently at two weeks interval until physiological maturity of maize. Yield parameters such as ear length, ear diameter, kernel per ear, shelling percentage and grain yield/ha were measured on maize while retted fibre yield/ha was measured on kenaf at flowering. The mechanical properties of the kenaf fibre were determined on the retted kenaf. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the significant mean values were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at p ≤ 0.05. Results indicated that season and row arrangement significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected growth and grain yield of maize and fibre yield of kenaf. The 1:2 and 2:2 row arrangements compared favourably with sole cropping on the mechanical properties of kenaf fibre. Row arrangement of 1:2 and 2:2 and sole cropping significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected tensile strength of kenaf fibre relative to 2:1 and 1:1 row arrangement. Thus, lower maize/kenaf ratio would promote optimum yield and good fibre quality of kenaf fibre.