An experiment was conducted to evaluate some crop production characteristics and economic viability of intercropping systems using taro (Colocasia esculenta) 'Chinês', as major crop, and sweet corn (Zea mays) 'Doce Cristal' as minor crop. Taro corms were planted in 12-cm-deep furrows in a 100 x 30 cm spacing. Sweet corn seeds were sowed in the row between the taro plants 40 days after the main crop planting. Corn plants were distributed in three arrays, as follows: one corn plant 30 cm apart; two corn plants 60 cm apart, and three corn plants 90 cm apart; and two growing systems (with and without removing the corn shoot when the ears were harvested at 110 days after sowing - soft kernel stage), comprising six treatments of intergrown and two control treatments (i.e., single crops). The experiments were organized in four random blocks, in a factorial array design (3 x 2) + 2 (three distribution of plants: one corn plant 30 cm apart; two corn plants 60 cm apart, and three corn plants 90 cm apart by two systems of corn growth: with and without removal of shoot when the ears were harvested + two control: single crop of either taro or sweet corn). Data for plant growth, production and the efficiency for the different planting systems arrays were collected. Both crops were suitable for intergrowing systems. Higher values for crop production and intergrowing efficiency index were obtained in treatment with one corn plant 30 cm apart. Lower intergrowing efficiency index and economical return were observed in the treatment where each three corn plants were 90 cm apart and shoots were removed just after the harvest at the soft kernel stage. The others intercrop systems were both agronomically and economically viable.
Colocasia esculenta; Zea mays; intercropping
