Open Agriculture. 2017; 2: 411–416 Research Article Beyenesh Z. Kidane*, Mereseit H.Hailu, Haile T. Haile Maize and Potato Intercropping: A Technology to Increase Productivity and Profitability in Tigray https://doi.org/10.1515/opag-2017-0044 received November 21, 2016; accepted May 22, 2017 1 Introduction Abstract: Smallholders have limited landholding in Agriculture is the leading sector in the national economy the highlands of Tigray and therefore there is a critical and is the core driver for Ethiopia’s growth and long-term need to improve land use efficiency (LUE). One way to food security accounting for nearly 46% of GDP, 73% of improve the LUE is through intercropping of companion employment, and nearly 80% of foreign export earnings crops including maize and potato. An experiment was (ATA 2014). Furthermore, more than 95% of the country’s conducted to evaluate the intercropping ratio as a means agricultural output is generated by subsistence farmers to improve land use efficiency during the 2012 cropping who, on average, own less than one hectare of cultivated season. The treatments tested were three intercropping land (USDA 2010). Agricultural productivity is therefore, ratios of maize: potato in 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 row arrangement constrained by limited cultivation areas and high compared against the maize and potato only cropping. population growth. The objective of the study was to identify the best Tigray is the most food insecure region of the country. intercropping ratio that maximizes land use efficiency. Increasing food production to feed the fast growing Land equivalent ratio (LER) was used to compare the population living worldwide in drought-prone areas like land use efficiency of the intercrops with each sole crop. Tigray, Ethiopia, relies on two options, either increase the The total yield of intercropped crops were greater than arable land to be cultivated or improve land productivity. sole cropping, shown by LER>1. The overall advantage of The first option is less realistic and may not address the intercropping ranged from 35 to 58%. The highest land problem of water scarcity in view of land scarcity and equivalent value of 58% was recorded for one maize and limited land reserve (Tsegay et al. 2015). The use of an two potato rows arrangements indicated a yield advantage intercropping system is one method of increasing crop of 58% over sole crop. The partial land equivalent value of productivity and intensity of crops (Sullivan 2000). both crops in intercropping was less than one indicating Intercropping has several advantages such as the cohesiveness of both crops in intercropping. Thus, it additional income from companion crops (Samsuzzaman can be concluded that 1maize: 2 potato intercropping is a et al. 1999), insurance against crop failure (Beyenesh viable agronomic option in increasing land use efficiency 2008), increase productivity (Sharaiha et al. 2004), stability and increased food security. It is, therefore, imperative to of production, and maximization of products, soil fertility demonstrate the best treatment under farmer’s condition. and pest control. This functional diversity contributes to ecological processes to promote the sustainability of the Keywords: Hawzen, Intercropping arrangement, Land whole farm system (Vandermeer 1989; Altieri 1999). Equivalent Ratio (LER), sole cropping, grain yield, tuber The agricultural system in Tigray has been mainly yield cereal based. Maize (Zea mays L.) is the principal cereal crop which is grown both under rainfed and irrigation usually, for human food, but sometimes, as a cash crop. Maize is a cereal crop that is grown widely throughout the world in a range of agro-ecological environments. More maize is produced annually than any other grain. The grains are rich in vitamins A, C and E, carbohydrates, *Corresponding author: Beyenesh Z. Kidane, Mekelle Agricultural essential minerals, and contain 9% protein. They are also Research Center Mekelle, Ethiopia, E-mail: [email protected] Mereseit H. Hailu, Haile T. Haile, International Potato Center, Meklle rich in dietary fiber and calories which are a good source Ethiopia of energy. Open Access. © 2017 Beyenesh Z. Kidane, et al., published by De Gruyter Open. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License. 412 B.Z. Kidane, et al. On the other hand, Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is precipitation was 536 mm while the total rainfall of the the world’s leading vegetable crop by virtue of its inherent growing season was 469 mm. The average minimum potential for tonnage production, remunerative income temperature was 10oC and maximum temperature was and good nutritional values. It is a starchy, tuberous crop. 27oC. The study has a one season rainfall pattern with Potato is a promising tuber crop gradually becoming an extended rainy season from March to November with important in the highlands of Tigray and plays both as the peak season in August. The area has a mixed farming dietary and income generating. The eastern and southern system with crop dominance. The dominant crops growing zones are particularly the highest potato production in the area are wheat, maize barley, teff and vegetables which accounts for more than 83% of total area and more mainly potato and tomato. The soil of the experimental than 74% of total production of the region with an average site was sandy loam in texture (Rowell 1994). According to yield of 10 t ha-1 (CSA 2003). Both crops are grown mainly rating of Tekalign (1991), the soil was almost neutral (6.3) independently though some farmers often undertake and low in total nitrogen (0.05%), low available Olsen P maize and potato intercropping due to diminishing (5.45ppm) and medium in CEC (20 mq/100g soil) suitable land for food production. However, the procedure is not optimized and there is a great variation on yield productivity (BOARD 2010). In the region, both crops are 3.2 Experimental design and treatments considered as food security crop and there is a great need to improve their productivity through intercropping. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized Most studies in Ethiopia have focused on cereal and complete block design with three repeats. The treatments legume intercropping and identified suitable genotype consisted three intercropping combinations viz: two combinations, plantings dates, and population densities rows of maize + one row of potato, one row of maize + of various species while, little attention was given to one row of potato, one row of maize + two rows potato , other intercropping systems (Bantie et al. 2014). Several maize only and potato only. The maize variety used was authors have reported the superiority of maize/potato Melekasa II and Gera for potato. Both potato and maize intercropping to sole (Amin et al. 1996; Sharaiha Battikhi were sown at the same time in rows 75 cm apart with 25 cm 2002; Tesfay et al. 2006; Yayeh 2015). This suggests that intra-row spacing based on the required treatment. Maize the system can help to raise productivity to achieve food seeds were sown at the rate of two seeds per hill and the security but the system has never been researched and seedlings thinned to one plant per hill after three weeks. no studies have been made to improve the productivity of Recommended hand weeding and harvesting practices the system. To this effect, an experiment was conducted were followed, and fertilizers were applied at rates of 50 at Hawzen to assess the compatibility of the companion kg urea and 100 kg Dap ha-1 for maize and 195 kg Dap ha-1 crops and identify best cropping ratio that maximize land and 165 kg urea for potato. use efficiency. 2 Objectives 3.2.1 Treatments tested 1. Two rows of maize planted with one rows of potato – To assess the compatibility of companion crops. (maize was planted in 75 cm × 25 cm and distance – To identify the best cropping ratio that gave land use between potato and maize is 37.5 cm) (2 maize: 1 advantages of the component crops in intercropping potato). system. 2. Potato was planted between rows of maize (maize planted in 75 cm × 25 cm) (1 maize: 1 potato). 3 Materials and Methods 3. One row of maize planted with two rows of potato (potato was planted in 75 cm × 25 cm and distance between potato and maize is 37.5 cm) (1 maize: 2 3.1 Site description potatoes). 4. Maize only. The experiment was conducted during the 2012 cropping 5. Potato only. at Hawzen district. Geographically, the site is located at 39° 27’ 2’’ E and 13° 15’ 16’’ N, altitude of 2120 meters above sea level. The long term average (1971-2000) annual Maize and Potato Intercropping: A Technology to Increase Productivity and Profitability in Tigray 413 3.3 Data collection and measurements would imply that there was no advantage of intercropping over pure crops. An LER greater than 1.0 would show Data on plant height, cobs per plant, cob length, and a yield advantage of intercropping over pure crops, In tubers per plant were determined from 10 randomly contrast, when LER is lower than one the intercropping sampled plants per plot during physiological maturity. negatively affects the growth and yield of the plants grown The grain and tuber yield of each crop of the component in mixtures (Ofori and Stern 1987). crop in the intercrop was determined from the harvestable -1 plot and converted to tones ha . 4 Results and discussion 3.4 Data analysis 4.1 Maize component Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) The plant height, number of cobs plant-1, cob length following statistical procedures of SAS version 9.2. The and grain yield under the different treatments are level of significance was set at (p ≤ 0.05).