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Effect Of Introducing Garden Egg To Fluted Pumpkin In A Relay Intercrop On Sole And Combined Growth Of The Crop Mixtures
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In intercropping crops could be arranged in any of the following forms.
Mixed cropping – Here component crops are totally, mixed in the available space without any form of arrangement.
Row cropping- The component crops are arranged in alternate rows. A variation of row cropping includes multiple rows of another.
Relay
cropping- Here the second crop is sown at the onset of reproductive
development or fruiting of the first crop such that when the fruit is
harvested it gives room for the full development of the second.
Strip cropping- This involves sowing more than one crop in different strips.
Intercropping
as previously mentioned has an increased yield advantage thus useful in
poverty and hunger alleviation as an insurance against crop failure and
positive effect on soil properties (Ehigiator and Ikhidero, 1999).
Garden Egg (Solanum aethiopicum)
The
name “Garden egg plant†was derived from the shape of the fruits of
some varieties which are white and shaped like chicken eggs (Chen et
al., 2001). The plant (Solanum spp) is a vegetable with increasing
popularity in the world (Pessarakli and Dris, 2003), and it originated
from Tropical Africa (Norman, 1992). It is an economic flowering plant
belonging to the family Solanaceae, of which members of about 1,400
species found throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world
are mostly herbaceous plants. The fruit of the plant comes in a wide
array of shapes and colours, some are yellow and small with green
stripes; there are the big yellow ones with white colour and flat ribbed
green types among others (Chen et al., 2001). The importance of the
garden-egg cannot be overemphasized. It is consumed on daily basis by
urban families and also represents the main source of income for
producing households in West Africa (Danquah- Jones, 2000).
Nutritionally, garden egg contains water (92.5%), protein (1%), fat
(0.3%), and carbohydrates (6%). They contain between 30 and 50% of iron
(Fe), fiber, potassium (K), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and vitamins;
thiamin (vitamin B1), B6, folate, magnesium and niacin. Egg plant also
contains phyto-nutrients such as nasunin and chlorogenic acid (Sabo and
Dia, 2009). It is a very good source of dietary fiber, potassium,
manganese, copper and vitamin B6, folate, magnesium and niacin. Egg
plant also contains phyto-nutrients such as nasunin and chlorogenic
acid. It is a valuable vegetable for canning industries for garden-egg
paste, sautéed garden-egg and other products. The fruits are fried,
stewed, marinated and prepared in other ways. The garden egg plant with
its bitter taste and spongy texture could really make an amazing pot of
stew with a nice aroma. When eaten with boiled yam or rice, it becomes a
delicacy you do not want to miss at the slightest opportunity.
Medicinally, they are processed and used in the preparation of
condiments and products used in treating different diseases and health
problems (Burkill, 1985). A meal of garden egg is proven to be of
benefits to patients suffering from raised intraocular pressure
(glaucoma) and convergence insufficiency, as well as in heart diseases
and Arteriosclerosis (Harish et al., 2008). The plant can be regarded as
a brain food because it houses the anthocyanin phytonutrient found in
its skin, Nasunin, a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that
has been shown to protect cell membranes from damage. Studies have shown
that nasunin protects the fats in brain cell membranes. Nasunin is not
only a potent free radical scavenger, but is also an iron chelator. Iron
is an essential nutrient, necessary for oxygen transport, normal immune
function and collagen synthesis, but when it becomes too much in the
blood stream; it becomes a major concern. Excess iron increases free
radical production and is associated with an increased risk of heart
disease and cancer. Menstruating women, who lose iron every month in
their menstrual flow, are unlikely to be at risk, but in post-menopausal
women and men, iron, which is not easily excreted, can accumulate.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The effect of introducing garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum) to fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) in a relay intercrop on the growth of crop mixture under rainfed conditions (September to November, 2014) was investigated at the Faculty of Agriculture University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria.Garden egg and a local variety of fluted pumpkin were sown sole and intercrop. Garden egg and fluted pumpkin were planted sole and intercropped to evaluate their interaction effect on growth parameters suc ... Continue reading---
