Growth and Yield of Hot Pepper in Hedgerow Intercropping with Morinda Citrifolia L. During Early Establishment

Intercropping high-value horticultural crops with tree crops is an economically attractive, but little studied, agroforestry option in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A study was conducted to evaluate growth and yield performance of hot pepper (Capsicum chinense L.) under hedgerow intercropping with Morinda (Morinda citrifolia L.), a popular medicinal tree in the Virgin Islands. Morinda hedgerows were established at 5-m spacing forming 5-m wide alleys between hedgerows. One year after hedgerow establishment, seedlings of hot pepper cultivar 'West Indies Red' were transplanted in alleys at 1 m row spacing and 0.60 m plant spacing within rows. Similar spacing was used for plots planted with monoculture hot pepper (no hedgerows). The experiment was designed using a randomized block with four replications. The Morinda hedgerows were not pruned during the cropping year. Data were collected on hot pepper height, number and weight of marketable fruits. Hedgerow plant height and canopy width were also determined at 3-month interval. Treatment effect of hedgerow on growth and yield of n p n n p r TTifip ΟΛ^ΜΜΟΙ-ΛΛΙ ΐΥ!Λη/\Λΐι1+ιιι.ΰ wl pCppCI Λ ab wxiipcnuia vvïlju uIwjljlvjwujLlua^ uiwp. Λ/\ iηic niiUy/ofJiiLrib ΛU-ΓJ zL^ nutoa iiaM U/liiurtincafuûC^ vi-aV inu-fi a/LΙ ιιuνuιiηi Anrl gfU, ûu nΛv^Ο ΪoΊcΊΓu iy establishment of hedgerows, plant height and marketable yield were not significantly (P>0.05) reduced in hedgerow intercropping. Differences in height and yield by rows relative to distance from hedgerows were not significant (P>0.05). However, average yield under hedgerow intercropping was slightly lower than monoculture (no hedgerow) crop. This study would indicate that during the early stage of hedgerow establishment, tree-crop competition is not critical in reducing growth and yield of hot pepper. Long term effects of hedgerows on productivity of intercrops will be further investigated