Effects of Planting Densities, Irrigation, and Hornworm Larvae on Yields in Experimental Intercrops of Tomatoes and Cucumbers

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Abstract
In experiments conducted near Ann Arbor, Mich. in 1981 and 1982, yield responses of intercrops of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) were compared to monocultures of each crop with respect to several variables affecting yields. In 1981, the effects of two levels of irrigation (irrigation and no irrigation) and three levels of artificially manipulated numbers of hornworm (Manduca spp.) larvae were compared in intercrops and monocultural controls planted at three different cucumber densities and one tomato density. In 1982, two levels of irrigation were compared across two densities of cucumbers and two densities of tomatoes. Intercrops of tomatoes and cucumbers showed relatively greater increases in yields than monocultures when water availability was greatest and at higher levels of pest (hornworm) attack. Irrigation seemed to relax competition between crop species, and cucumbers may have compensated for tomato defoliation by hornworms.

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