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Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to determine the economic feasibility of intercrop- ping bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and plantain (Musa acuminata χ M· balbisiana AAB) at Corozal, Puerto Rico in 1995-1996. Treatment variables consisted of two bean cultivars (Arroyo Loro and 9443-1) and two frequencies of intercroppings (once and twice). The results indicated that two intercroppings of 9443-1 outyielded significantly (P<0.05) one intercropping of Arroyo Loro but did not outyield one intercropping of 9443-1. However, there was no significant yield difference between the two intercroppings of Arroyo Loro and the two intercroppings of 9443-1. Plantain yield, in terms of the number of fruits, was not significantly affected by intercropping. The highest net income of the intercropping treatment was obtained from the two intercroppings of 9443-1 ($7,706/ha). This represents an additional income of $ 4,922/ha over that of plantain monoculture. The high production cost of bean incurred from two intercroppings resulted in less-than- expected net income as compared to that of one intercropping within one growing cycle of plantain.