Abstract:
Hot pepper (Capsicum annum L.), its green pod and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) are widely
grown in Hawassa area by smallholder farmers as a mixed cropping system with different
population densities of basil. Hence, an experiment was conducted in a field at Hawassa Green
Mark Herbs Private Limited Company site to determine optimum basil population densities for
intercropping with hot pepper and assess yield advantage and economic returns. Two hot pepper
varieties (Melka Shote and Melka Awaze) and four basil population densities (100% (55556),
75% (41667), 50% (27778) and 25% (13889) plant ha-1
) and their soles as check were factorialy
arranged and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on
phenology, growth, yield components, yields and quality parameters were collected for both
crops and analyzed using SAS software (version 9.3). The analysis of variance revealed that the
green hot pepper yield was not significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by variety. However, the highest
marketable fruit yield (8.05 t ha-1
) was obtained from a plot with the lowest population density of
basil (25%). Similarly, the sole cropping system of green hot pepper had the highest yield (8.58 t
ha-1
) and intercropping with basil reduced its yield by 23 %. On the other hand, the interaction
was not significant (P≤0.05) for fresh leaf yield and essential oil yields of basil. However, the
highest fresh leaf yield of basil (8.92 t ha-1
, 6.24 t ha-1
and 12.02 t ha-1
) was obtained from Melka
Awaze variety, 100% density and sole cropping system, respectively. The essential oil yield of
basil was not influenced by hot pepper varieties, but significant higher mean essential oil yields
of (14.73 kg ha-1
and 19.46 kg ha-1
) were obtained from 100% density, which was statistically at
par with 75%, and the intercropped system of basil, respectively. Intercropping of Melka Awaze
variety with 50% density of basil resulted in the maximum total LER value of 1.86 and MAI value
of 251,525 ETB ha-1
, Whereas intercropping of Melka Shote with 50%, 75% and 25% population
densities had maximum total LER values of 1.78, 1.74 and 1.74, and MAI values of 240,755 ETB
ha-1
, 242,385 ETB ha-1 and 236,808 ETB ha-1
, respectively. Furthermore, correlation analysis
showed that growth and yield components had significant and positive contribution to the yields
of both crops. Therefore, the population density of 27778 basil plants ha-1 with Melka Awaze
variety and 41667 basil plants ha-1 with Melka Shote variety could be recommended to the
targeted area. However, further studies across locations, seasons, under both rainfed condition
and full irrigation systems, and for dry pod of hot pepper would be important to assess the yield
and economic advantages of intercropping hot pepper with basil and come up with a more
compressive conclusion.
