An economic evaluation of zero-tillage farming system against the background of small-scale farmers in south west Nigeria was undertaken using the linear programming method to maximize yearly net return on Alfisols. Alternative crop rotation systems considered were maize-maize, maize-Stylo, maize-maize/Stylo, maize-pigeon pea, maizemaize/pigeon pea, and maize/Leucaena-maize/Leucaena.The maximum net profit farm plan, for an individual farmer with N300.00 cash investment, comprised 1.35 ha (95%) maize/Leucaena-maize/Leucaena and 0.07 ha (5%) maize-Stylo rotation systems. Net profit associated with the plan was 1~978.58 while shadow prices of rejected systems ranged between N66.68 and t~168.24, indicating stability of the model. Under severe cash constraints and where hired labour was available at relatively low cost the maize/Leucaena alley cropping system was the most promising package. The results suggested a promising future for the combined production of agricultural and forestry crops under an integrated land management system by small-scale farmers in the humid tropics.

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