Jornal de Horticultura
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Evaluating Intercropping Taro (Colocasia Esculenta L.) with Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Cheha and Silti Districts, Southern Ethiopia

Bezabih Woldekiros

Taro is a staple food for millions of people and it is commonly grown by small scale farmers. As taro is long duration crop and develops slowly during its early growth, it has the potential for intercropping during this period. The crop has been intercropped with longer maturing crops such as coffee and other fruit trees. Intercropping of short duration crop appears most suitable to improve land usage and food security for small-scale farmers. A field experiment was conducted in Cheha district of Guraghe zone and Misrak silti district of Siltie zone in 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons to evaluate taro and common bean intercropping. Four treatments (sole taro, sole common bean, 1taro:1common bean and 1taro:2common bean) were involved. Both 1taro:1common and 1taro:2common bean intercropping was advantageous over sole cropping of the component crops. Due to easy workability1taro:1common bean is advisable. Since, improved implements cannot be used efficiently;this practice is practical in areas where intensive agriculture is the peculiar option to improve crop production where there is no labor shortage.