The establishment and early yield of cocoa intercropped with food crops in Ghana

Abstract

A cocoa-tood crop intercropping trial was set up in 1988 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Tafo. The effects of plantain, cassava, and maize as intercrops with cocoa only and in their various combinations on the establ ishment, growth of the cocoa, and the profitability of the food crops were studied in a randomized block experiment with five replicates. Mixed hybrid cocoa seedlings were planted at 3 mx 3 m and G/yricidia maculata provided permanent shade in all plots. Three years after planting, the sole cocoa with Glyricidia maculata was inferior in growth to the cocoa interplanted with food crops. Cocoa in treatments which included maize showed superior growth and better precocity. Yield of each food intercrop with cocoa only was higher than when combined with other food crops. Sole cocoa gave less revenue equivalent to the operational costs during the establishment phase. The other food crop combinations with cocoa gave net revenue gain in the first 2 years after planting. The economic evaluation of the food crop combinations indicated that freatments which included cassava were the most profitable.