Evaluating Agronomic and Essential Oil of African Marigold (<i>Tagetes erecta </i>L.) Varieties Intercropping with Tomato by Its Population Density at Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Intercropping of African marigolds between tomatoes protects the tomato plants from harmful root-knot nematodes in the soil and increase the marketable fruit yield of tomato by trapping different insects and pest attack and the like. Field experiment was conducted to assess effect of plant densities of intercropped African Marigold Varieties on yield related traits and yield of the associated crops and to evaluate the productivity and economic value of tomato and African marigold intercropping system, in southern parts of Ethiopia, at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center in 2017/18 cropping season. Three varieties of African marigold (AVT 001, AVT 540 and AVT 7063) at three population densities (PD) (25%, 50%, and 75%) were intercropped with tomato variety 'Melk shola'. The three varieties of African marigold (AFM) and tomato were included as a sole for comparison. Randomized complete block design in factorial with three replications was used. The varieties of AFM significantly affected plant (PH), essential oil content (EOC) and essential oil yield (EOY). The tallest plant (55.36 cm) of AFM was due to AVT 001 than other varieties. Variety AVT 540 gave the highest EOC (0.21) and EOY (7.55 kg ha -1 ) than other two varieties. Sole planted African marigold produced significantly higher (55.73) number of fresh flowers per plant than the intercropped (50.04). Cropping system was significantly affected number of branch (NBPP) and number of fresh flowers per plant (NFFPP). The highest NBPP (24.91) and NFFPP (55.73) were obtained from sole planting of AFM. The highest NBPP (23.15) and NFFPP (50.07) were recorded from 50% PD. of AFM. The highest fresh flower yield (45,860 kg ha -1 ), dry flower weight per hectare (5,360 kg ha -1 ), EOC (0.17) and EOY (9.36 kg ha -1 ) were due to 75% PD. The highest (0.84) partial land equivalent ratio (LER) of tomato and total LER (1.43) were due to 50% PD. The highest value of monetary advantage index (37,225 ETB ha -1 ) was due to 50% PD. Therefore, any of the three African marigold varieties at 50% PD could be recommended for intercropping with tomato.