Intercropping Maize with Cassava: All you need to Know

This post tells you about the benefits of intercropping maize with cassava and the techniques of intercropping. Intercropping is a method of growing two or more crops together, often to increase the yields of both. It’s an extraordinarily successful strategy in many parts of Africa. 

Introduction

Sub-Saharan Africa relies heavily on cassava and maize, as both crops are critical sources of sustenance for the region’s population.

These two crops are intercropped in several countries in Africa, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Togo. 

Cassava has been used for centuries by the people of West Africa as a food crop. It is easy to grow, needs little fertilizer, and is drought tolerant.

With the recent price increases in maize (corn), and the growing concerns over availability. You may want to read Agricultural Businesses in Nigeria: Importance of Credit Facilities.

 What is Intercropping?

Intercropping refers to planting two or more different crops together. While it may seem like a simple concept, there are many benefits to intercropping. 

The idea behind Intercropping is to increase crop yields by combining different crops in the same field. For example, you can intercrop maize with cassava or soybeans.

The Benefits of Intercropping Maize with Cassava

The idea of intercropping is not new. It’s been practised for centuries in Africa and Asia. The practice involves growing a crop on top of another crop or in a space where a crop is not usually grown. 

•    Intercropping is an effective way of growing crops. It’s a technique that combines two or more crops in the same field, which allows them to share resources and nutrients. It allows us to grow more food from the same amount of land.

Intercropping is a popular technique in agriculture to reduce the need for harmful chemicals like pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides. One of the most common forms of Intercropping is the use of maize and cassava, two of the most important crops in Sub-Saharan Africa.

•    Intercropping maize with cassava is also a terrific way to reduce the risk of soil erosion. If you grow a crop on top of another crop, you won’t have to worry about the soil being washed away by rain. It’s also a clever idea to plant crops that require different soil types.

For example, if you’re planting maize and cassava, it’s a good idea to grow maize in areas with heavy clay soil. This will help to prevent the soil from eroding.

•    In some parts of Africa, farmers find that their yields of maize and cassava are decreasing. Sometimes, the yield of these staple crops decreases by as much as 30%. One reason for this decrease is the lack of space for food production. 

However, there is a way to solve this problem: intercropping! Intercropping is an effective way to increase yields, a livelihood-sustaining system, especially in areas where rain-fed farming is practised.

•    Intercropping is a good way to make your farm more productive and profitable. It will allow you to get more than you would be getting from a single crop. It will help you to reduce the risk of crop failure. You should always think of planting two or more crops together. This will help you to increase your yield.         

•    Intercropping also helps to reduce the risk of crop failure. Intercropping is a good way to diversify your farm, as it allows you to grow more than one crop at the same time. This way, you can be sure that you have a backup crop in case one of the crops you are growing fails.

The Drawbacks of Intercropping Maize with Cassava

While intercropping maize with cassava can be a real boon in many situations, it’s not without its challenges. Here are some drawbacks to consider before you get planting:

Yield reduction (sometimes): If not managed carefully, competition for resources like water and nutrients can actually lead to lower yields for both crops.1 It’s a delicate balancing act!

Shading issues: Cassava, with its broad leaves, can shade out the maize, especially if planted too close. This can stunt the maize’s growth and reduce your harvest.

Labour intensive: Intercropping often requires more labour than monocropping. You’ll need to be extra vigilant with weeding, pest control, and harvesting to ensure both crops thrive.

Management complexity: Getting the timing and spacing right is crucial. It can be tricky to find the sweet spot where both maize and cassava get what they need without hindering each other.

Nutrient depletion: While cassava can add nutrients back to the soil, both crops still draw nutrients out. Without proper soil management and fertilization, you could end up with depleted soil in the long run.

Pest and disease risks: Some pests and diseases can affect both maize and cassava. If one crop gets infected, it can easily spread to the other, putting your whole harvest at risk.

Harvesting challenges: Harvesting can be more time-consuming and complicated when you have two crops intertwined. You’ll need to be careful not to damage one while harvesting the other.

Important Note: These drawbacks don’t mean intercropping maize with cassava is a bad idea. It just means you need to be aware of the potential challenges and take steps to mitigate them. With proper planning, management, and a bit of know-how, you can still reap the many benefits of this intercropping system.

Intercropping Practices

When it comes to planting, there are two main ways of intercropping maize with cassava: vertical and horizontal.

The easiest way to intercrop maize with cassava is to plant the two crops in the same row. When the two crops are planted in the same row, it is called ‘vertical intercropping.  

This is the most common method of intercropping maize with cassava in West Africa. When planting in rows, it is important to make sure that the cassava is not touching the maize. This technique creates a denser stand of cassava. 

Management Practices

If you plant the cassava and maize together, then the cassava can help to increase the yield of the maize. The yield of the maize will be increased by 20% to 30%. It’s best to plant the cassava in the maize field within 2 weeks of post-emergence spraying.  

Before the next wedding takes place, you need to make sure that the maize is ready for harvest. This means that I won’t be able to spray any herbicides that could potentially harm the maize.

Unfortunately, there is no post-emergence herbicide available for intercrop fields, so I’ll have to find another solution. You could apply the post-emergence herbicide after you have harvested your maize.

As a maize farmer who wants to intercrop with cassava, there are a few things you need to plan for; there will be a minor change in your farm practices.

Farmers who choose not to practice intercropping cannot control weeds in the same way. You also need to plant the cassava at the appropriate time.

Know that your pest management and fertilization will not change. Selecting better seeds, a suitable location, and planting appropriately is what you need to do.

Pre-emergence and post-emergence spraying are needed to control pest management.

Having done the pre-emergence herbicide appropriately, the post-emergence herbicide could take place during the 5th-8th week of planting.
Hence, planting cassava could come between 6–8 weeks after planting maize. The planting spacing for the cassava is going to be 0.75 to 1 m from each plant.

 Conclusion