Studies on Oil Palm Based Cropping Systems in Ghana
Date
1999-10
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
A survey was conducted in 1994 to gather information
on the practice of intercropping food crops in oil
palm on small-scale farms in the oil palm zones of
southern Ghana. The objective was to identify and
study intercropping systems used in oil palm
production. Data was collected by interviewing a
total of 72 oil palm farmers from the oil palm
growingregions,(Eastern,
Central,Western,Ashanti,Brong-Ahafo,and Volta) at
their farm locations. The responses indicated that
the small-scale oil palm farmers in Ghana commonly
intercrop oil palm with maize, cassava and plantain
especially during the first three years of the crop.
The three staple crops, maize, cassava and plantain
were intercropped in oil palm between 1994 and 1997
at the Oil Palm Research Institute, Kusi, Ghana to
assess their effects on the growth, development and
yields of oil palm. Intercropping was compared to
the standard system of cover cropping oil palm with
pueraria. Nutrient dynamics, soil moisture retention, and solar
interception by the oil palm were also examined.
The performances of the food crops were also assessed
as well as the ability of the cropping systems to
control weeds was assessed. An economic analysis was
also carried out.
There were seven treatments, consisting of:
(i) sole oil palm with pueraria cover crop;
(v-vii) sole crops of maize, cassava and plantain
respectively.
These were arranged in a randomnized complete block
design and replicated four times.
Intercropping oil palm with maize, cassava and
plantain had no adverse effect on the growth,
development and yield of the oil palm. The Oil palm
+ maize + maize intercrop and oil palm cover- cropped
with pueraria positively influenced soil moisture
retention, nutrient uptake and accumulation and light
interception by the oil palm more than what pertained
with oil palm + maize + cassava and oil palm + maize
+ plantain.
(iii) oil palm + maize + plantain
(ii) oil palm + maize + cassava;
(iv) oil palm + maize + maize. Yields of the intercropped food crops compared
favourably with yields of these crops when solely
cropped.
The sole oil palm with pueraria cover crop and oil
palm + maize + maize association controlled weeds
better than the oil palm + maize + cassava and oil
palm + maize + plantain associations. Intercropping
oil palm with maize, cassava and plantain was found
to be economically beneficial to the small-scale oil
palm farmer.
Description
Thesis (PHD)- University of Ghana, 1999