Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 1996, Vol. 13, pp. 335-340 0144-8765/96$10 © 1996 A B Academic Publishers Printed in Great Britain Productivity of Plantain (Musa AAB)-Melon Mixtures in South Western Nigeria M.A. Jolaoso1, I.M. Ojeifo 2 and 1.0.0. Aiyelaagbe 3 * 1 Raw Materials Research and Development Council, P.M.B. 12873, Lagos, Nigeria. 2 Faculty of Agriculture, Delta State University, Anwai, Asaba, Nigeria. 3 Farming Systems Division, National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B. 5432, lbadan, Nigeria. ABSTRACT For three consecutive cropping seasons, plantain (Musa AAB), established at 1667 plants ha- 1 , was intercropped with melons: egusi melon (Citrullus lanatus) followed by water melon (Citrullus lanatus) followed by egusi melon. The aim was to assess the compatibility of plantain with melons. The populations of melon used were 3333, 5000 and 6666 plants ha- 1 . Leaf area of plantain was significantly decreased by intercropping with 5000 and 6666 melon plants ha- 1 . Intercropping did not significantly influence bunch yield of plantain but it caused a 2-7 and 20% yield decrease in egusi melon and water melon respectively. Land Equivalent Ratios (LER) of the intercropped plots were 1.67, 1.69 and 1.74 respectively. Cash advantage due to intercropping (CAl) values for plantain intercropped with 3333, 5000 and 6666 melon plants ha- 1 were N61400, N65700 and N72100 ha- 1 respectively. The plantain-melon mixture is proferred as an alternative sustainable mixture to existing plantain-based mixed cropping systems. INTRODUCTION Plantain (Mus a AAB) is one of the staple foodcrops of the humid lowlands of West Africa. It features mainly in small scale mixed cropping systems such as multi-storied homegardens, and cocoa plantations (Nweke et al., 1988; Tonye eta/., 1988; Asare eta!., 1990; Budelman & Zander, 1990; Oladokun, 1990). In these systems plantain is intercropped with other foodcrops such as cassava, cocoyam, sweet potato and maize. Under conditions of continuous intercropping, which is usually the case, plantain yields decline (Braide & Wilson, 1980). This is caused by a rapid decline in soil fertility caused by the *Corresponding author. 335