Abstract:

Intercropping experiments involving sunflower with beans, groundnuts, maize and sorghum at different ratios were
conducted at the National Semi Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) in 2006 and 2007. Treatments were organized in a
randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated 4 times and plots measured 11.0 m wide by 5.5 m long. The best intercropping
ratios in decreasing order as per LER values were: (a) Ratio 1:1 for sunflower/beans intercrop with yields of 1619 and 430 kg ha-1 for
sunflower and beans respectively with LER of 1.48 and total income of 1,110,500 UgShs ha-1; (b) Ratio 3:1 for sunflower/maize
intercrop where the yields were 2415.9 and 686.1 kg ha-1 for sunflower and maize, respectively, with LER of 1.26 and total income
of 1,413,780 Ug Shs ha-1; (c) Ratio 2:2 for sunflower/sorghum intercrop with yields of 1495.4 and 722.2 kg ha-1 for sunflower and
sorghum, respectively, with LER of 1.24 and total income of 892,140 UgShs ha -; (d) Ratio 2:1 for sunflower groundnuts intercrop
where the yields were 2299.9 and 144.4 kg ha-1 for sunflower and groundnuts, respectively, with LER of 1.16 and total income of
Uganda Shillings 1,309,970 ha-1