| 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. |
