Preliminary evaluation of pineapple mixed‐cropping systems for protecting reclaimed gulleys in the tropics: An experiment in Southeast Nigeria

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Abstract
This paper reports on research into the effectiveness of pineapple monocropping or intercropping systems (with cowpeas or egusi‐melon) for reestablishing vegetative cover to check soil erosion on a reclaimed gulley in the tropical rainforest of southeastern Nigeria.High‐density pineapple planting, intercropped with egusi‐melon, was found to promote rapid vegetative cover, checked soil loss, improved soil structural stability and produced a high crop yield. Soil loss was moderate in pineapple plots intercropped with cowpeas and least in pineapple plots intercropped with egusi‐melon. Increasing pineapple density enhanced the field establishment of cowpea and egusi‐melon respectively.