Intercropping of Arabica Coffee with Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose) at Tepi

Abstract

Investigation of coffee intercropping with turmeric and ginger was conducted at Tepi, southwest Ethiopia, with the objectives to evaluate the agronomic and economic benefits of the practice. Compact (74112 and 7110) and intermediate (7440) coffee cultivar, planting methods (sole vs. intercrop) and coffee population density (1600, 2500, 3265, 4444 and 6398 trees ha^-1) were factorially combined as main, sub- and sub- sub plot treatment, respectively, with three replications. Coffee cultivar 7440 intercrop with turmeric, while 74110 and 7440 intercrop with ginger variety Gin.37/79 and Gin.40/79, respectively. Sole plot of each crop was also planted. The results depict that intercropping did not significantly affect growth and yield of coffee trees. However, higher coffee yield advantages were found from sole plots as compared with intercropped stands. The compact coffee cultivars were more suitable for intercropping than the intermediate coffee type to sustain crop yields over crop years. Mean yield of turmeric and ginger over the study period were significantly (p < 0.01) higher for sole stands than intercropped plots. Unlike turmeric and ginger, yield of the three coffee cultivars significantly (p < 0.01) increased with increasing population density. The land equivalent ratio also depicted the yield advantage of growing coffee together with turmeric and ginger. As a whole, the research findings reveal that coffee intercropping with turmeric and ginger was found to be agronomically and economically beneficial in the southwest Ethiopia. Therefore, depending on the suitability of the area and the priority of the farmers, coffee intercropping with turmeric and ginger can be practiced as an important remedy to increase crop production and economic returns. 

Keywords: Coffee intercropping, garden coffee, land equivalent ratio, relative yield