• Authors:
    • Asadi, S.
    • Hokmalipour, S.
    • Sharifi, R.
    • Barmaki, M.
    • Kandi, M.
    • Darabad, G.
  • Source: Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In order to investigate the yield and yield components of mixed cropping of potato and safflower, as compared to those of the pure cropping, a study was carried out using factorial experiment with completely randomized block design and with three replications. This study was done in experiment field of University of Mohagheg Ardabili in the solar year 2010. The investigated treatments included potato pure cropping in the fixed density of 6 plants pre m 2, safflower pure cropping with the densities of 6, 12 and 18 plants per m 2, and the intercropping of potato (6 plants pre m 2 density) with safflower in the densities of 6,12 and 18 plants per m 2. The variance analysis of potato traits in both the intercropping and pure cropping indicated that, except from the number of stems pre m 2, other studied traits; including the number of tubes per plant, the tube weight per plant and the tube yield statistically differed meaningfully with each other. Moreover the results showed that all the studied traits including the number of receptacles pre plant, the number of seeds per receptacle, seed weight in the receptacle and seed yield, in terms of statistic figures differed with each other noticeably. In order to assess the efficiency of the intercropping, the indexes of LER and RVT were utilized. These indices proved that, almost in all cases, the intercropping is superior to the pure cropping. In this study the highest rates of LER and RVT (1/35 and 1/32 respectively), concerned the intercropping of safflower and potato with densities of 12 plants per m 2 and 6 plants per m 2 respectively.
  • Authors:
    • Du, X.
    • Zhang, D.
    • Dong, M.
  • Source: Acta Phytophylacica Sinica
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Aphids are primary pests of peach in early organic field. In order to know the relationship between aphids and their natural enemies and the ecological management, we design three ecological control mode, which are the treatment of planting garlic+mulch plastic film, the treatment of planting 100% alfalfa and the treatment of planting 70% alfalfa+30% Lagopsis supine. We investigate the insect community, analyse the natural enemies of aphids and the effect of ecological management. The results showed the main natural enemies of Myzus persicae (Sulzer), Hyalopterus amygdali (Blanchard) and Tuberocephalus momonis (Matsumura) were Propylea japonica (Thunberg), Orius sauteri (Poppius) and Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeusaeus). There was negative relationship between aphids and natural enemy/pest index. The natural enemy/pest index and evenness of natural enemies was significantly higher and the abundance of M. persicae, H. amygdali and T. momonis were significantly lower in the treatment of planting 100% alfalfa and in the treatment of planting 70% alfalfa +30% L. supina than those of control treatment. It is benefit to control green peach aphids with planting 100% alfalfa and it is benefit to control M. persicae, H. amygdali and T. momonis with planting 70% alfalfa+30% L. supina.
  • Authors:
    • Li, Y.
    • Zu, Y.
    • Wu, B.
    • An, T.
    • Zhan, F.
    • Yang, J.
    • Fu, Z.
  • Source: Research of Environmental Sciences
  • Volume: 24
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In order to explore the effects of different planting patterns for the effective control of farmland runoff contamination, loss of TN, TP, COD Cr and SS under different planting patterns were analyzed with field plot experiments. The results showed that the surface runoff, loss of TN, TP, COD Cr and SS under a mono-cropping system were higher than under a maize and vegetables intercropping system. The surface runoff, loss of TN, TP, COD Cr and SS could be reduced using a maize and vegetables intercropping system. The maize || cauliflower/potato intercropping pattern was the most effective. Comparing with cauliflower/potato mono-cropping system, its reduction percentages of surface runoff, TN, TP, COD Cr and SS were 79.59%, 86.87%, 84.23%, 91.41% and 82.46%, respectively.
  • Authors:
    • Ward, G.
    • Jacobs, J.
  • Source: Animal Production Science
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue: 12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Limitations to the current perennial ryegrass-based pasture system on dryland dairy farms in southern Australia has led to research into alternatives that can produce either additional DM, out of season feed or can improve nutritive characteristics. The use of winter annual crops followed by a summer crop have the potential to achieve these goals but often result in considerable periods where new crops are establishing and feed is not available for consumption. Companion cropping offers an option to overcome these limitations. The experiment reported in this paper examines the DM yields, nutritive characteristics and mineral content of companion cropping wheat or triticale at different sowing rates into an existing chicory monoculture over a 2-year period. We hypothesised that oversowing cereal crops in autumn into an existing stand of chicory would result in improvements in nutritive characteristics at ensiling, without adversely affecting DM yield or subsequent chicory DM yields following harvesting, thus negating the need to sow a new summer forage crop each year. Total DM yields for the chicory and cereal monocultures were similar over the experimental period, while DM yields for all triticale mixtures were higher than the chicory only treatment. Chicory produced lower DM yields for silage but higher DM yields at most grazing events. The crude protein and estimated metabolisable energy content of the chicory only treatment was higher than the cereal monocultures and all triticale/chicory mixtures at both silage harvests with wheat/chicory mixes being intermediate. The proportion of chicory in the mixed swards declined over the course of the experiment. The use of chicory with cereals resulted in no adverse effects on total DM yields, some improvements in nutritive characteristics and mineral content and a more continuous supply of DM compared with double cropping with annual species in winter and summer. This experiment has highlighted the potential of oversowing cereal forages into an existing chicory sward to contribute to DM production on dairy farms in southern Australia. Such forage mixes can provide flexibility into forage systems through the provision of forage for grazing in early winter, the production of high DM yield silage harvests and then subsequent feed supply over summer and early autumn.
  • Authors:
    • Deveikyte, I.
    • Sarunaite, L.
    • Kadziuliene, Z.
  • Source: Ratarstvo i Povrtarstvo
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The advantage of intercropping is beneficial biological interactions between crops and their different use of growth resources. Our experiment aimed at investigating the effects of pea intercropping with cereals on the improvement of cereal supply with nitrogen and protein content in grain on a loamy soil in organic farming conditions. It was carried out during 2007-2009 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture in Dotnuva. Pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), oats ( Arena sativa L.), and triticale (* Triticosecale Wittm.) were sown as intercrops 50:50 or as a sole crop. The results obtained during the experimental years showed that the productivity and quality of spring cereal sole crops or intercrops depended on the species of cereals and varied between different year's cultivation conditions. Grain productivity in some cases was estimated to be higher in the intercrops, however it was not stable in three experimental years. The protein content and yield in the grain of cereals grown in intercrops was positively affected by pea intercrops.
  • Authors:
    • Hyovela, M.
    • Hurme, T.
    • Niskanen, M.
    • Laine, A.
    • Kontturi, M.
    • Peltonen-Sainio, P.
  • Source: Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B-Soil and Plant Science
  • Volume: 61
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Locally produced crop protein is urgently needed in Europe. Pea is a good protein source and is well adapted to northern conditions. Pea can fix nitrogen that the following crop in rotation can benefit from. In cereal-dominated cropping systems pea is a break crop disrupting the life cycle of cereal diseases, leading to less fungicide application and thereby minimizing off farm inputs and benefiting the environment. Grain legumes provide animals with protein and energy, and the seeds of pulse crops are complementary to those of cereals. Field peas can be cultivated in most parts of Scandinavia and interest in peas has increased for inclusion in organic farming. Growing pea as a sole crop is a challenge since its stem is prone to lodging thereby resulting in harvesting difficulties, reduced yield and decreased profits. Intercropping of pea with oat could minimize the above listed problems but to our knowledge proportion of seeds mixture of the two crops and selection of pea cultivars without compromising the pea yield, especially protein production, at high latitudes conditions is limited. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate performance of sole cropped pea (Karita, Perttu, Hulda) and oat (seed proportions 7.5% and 15%) and their intercrop combinations and establish an appropriate seed mixture for a pea-oat intercropping systems that prevents lodging without markedly reducing pea yield. Field experiments were conducted at three locations (Jokioinen, Mietoinen, Ylistaro) of the Agrifood Research Finland in 2002-2004. Intercropping peas with oats prevented peas from lodging and made their harvest easier. Optimal numbers of oats in pea intercrops were difficult to determine, varying according to pea cultivar and local growth conditions. Excess oats in the seed mixture or conditions favouring oat growth prevented peas from lodging but pea yield was decreased.
  • Authors:
    • Jastrzebska, M.
    • Wanic, M.
    • Kostrzewska, M.
    • Nowicki, J.
  • Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The studies were conducted in the closed static field experiment established in 1990 at the Production-Experimental Enterprise in Bacyny. The experiment was established on the medium typical grey-brown podzolic soil. The paper presents the results of 3 years of studies (2002-2004) on the role of Italian ryegrass in development of the communities of weeds in spring barley sown after different previous crops (potato, spring wheat, spring barley). Every year at the stage of tillering and before harvest of spring barley the composition of species in the community and density of individual species as well as additionally, during that later period, the biomass of weeds were determined. The number of species and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index were assumed as parameters for evaluation of the diversity of the weeds community. Additionally, the Simpson domination index was determined. Comparisons of communities were conducted applying the Sorensen similarity index. The intercrop of Italian ryegrass had minor influence on limiting the weeds in spring barley by reducing their numbers and biomass of the weeds. Its positive influence was more pronounced in case of cultivating spring barley after spring barley and after potato than after spring wheat. The communities of weeds in spring barley consisted of similar numbers of species and their share in the total population or biomass of phytocenoses was subject to only minor diversifications under the influence of the experimental factors. The population of Chenopodium album was characterised by the largest population and dry mass among the weeds. Additionally, in the spring, numerous sprouts of Thlaspi arvense and at the end of spring barley vegetation a significant density of Fallopia convolvulus were recorded. On the other hand, as concerns "shapeliness" Fallopia convolvulus, Stellaria media and Sonchus arvensis were the complementary taxa. Before spring barley harvest the domination indexes were higher than in the spring and the diversity indexes lower. Presence of Italian ryegrass and choice of previous crop had minor influence on changes in the values of indexes at the analysed times of evaluation of weeds in spring barley. The communities of weeds were more similar in their composition of species and populations of individual species than in their dry mass.
  • Authors:
    • Vasseur, L.
    • Lotz, L.
    • You, M.
    • Lai, R.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 103
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is an insect pest that causes extensive damage to tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) in China. Field trials were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at Longyan in the Fujian Province (China) to evaluate the effects of garlic ( Allium sativum L.) as a deterrent to green peach aphids and other arthropods when intercropped in flue-cured tobacco fields. This study demonstrated that green peach aphids were affected by intercropping garlic in tobacco fields during the 2 yr studied. The appearance of green peach aphids in intercropped tobacco fields was delayed for approximately 7 d by the presence of garlic. Aphid abundance was reduced by 100% in intercropped fields compared with monocultures, especially when populations peaked (34.7-39.0% in 2008 and 42.0-47.2% in 2009). Other arthropod populations were not negatively affected by intercropping garlic. Species richness, diversity, and stability of the arthropod communities increased and the dominance concentration index decreased in the intercropped garlic fields. The tobacco mosaic viruses (cucumber mosaic virus, potato virus Y, tobacco etch virus, and tobacco ring-spot virus) transmitted by green peach aphids were decreased by 9.6 to 42.4% in 2008 and by 22.1 to 27.9% in 2009 by intercropping garlic in flue-cured tobacco fields. The net benefits of cropping flue-cured tobacco were also increased by 52.1 to 80.2% by intercropping garlic in the tobacco fields. Therefore, intercropping tobacco with garlic may be useful in deterring green peach aphids and in stabilizing arthropod communities in tobacco.
  • Authors:
    • Liu, Y.
    • Ma, L.
    • Li, X.
  • Source: Acta Phytophylacica Sinica
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In order to fully understand the regular pattern of the population dynamics of Lithocolletis ringoniella Matsumura in the apple production region of the Loess Plateau, the distribution pattern and the ecological niche index were determined and the clustering analysis was conducted to describe the dynamic change of L. ringoniella population. The results showed that the leaf insect spot caused by L. ringoniella was visible in June; the number of the insect increased in July, with the damage symptom severe in August; and the quantity of the population number was in surge in September and October. The relative abundance of the temporal sequence was in a strong rising trend since August. Population distribution in the crown was uniform in early July and aggregative after that. The spatial distribution among the vertical positions of the tree crown showed significant difference, population number following the order of lower > middle > upper parts, whereas distribution among horizontal directions had no significant difference. The general distribution within the crown appeared in cluster, with individuals attractive to each other. The ecological niche occupation of this pest in vertical and horizontal directions as well as in temporal sequences are 0.179, 0.371 and 0.594, respectively. The resource utilization rate in the lower part of the crown reached 53.73% and almost nothing utilized in the upper part, indicating a more horizontal expansion potential. Viewing from the four directions, the maximum utilization of resources was in the north and east, up to 27.90% and 21.66% respectively. The ecological niche overlap index of L. ringoniella with hawthorn spider mite in vertical and horizontal directions reached 92.65 and 64.95, respectively, in addition to temporal sequence to be 66.36, indicating that hawthorn spider mite is the most intense space-temporal competitor for the limited resources of apple's crown leaves. The dominance degree index of L. ringoniella in the young apple orchard in different intercropping patterns increased over time since August and largest increase happened in the middle of August. The highest dominance degree index was found in soybean-apple intercropping pattern and the lowest index with sweet potato-apple intercropping pattern. The index fluctuated in the orchard with weeds unwell-managed.
  • Authors:
    • Zeng, Y.
    • Li, W.
    • Liang, H.
    • Nong, M.
    • Yang, W.
    • Liu, Y.
  • Source: Guizhou Agricultural Sciences
  • Issue: 11
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A non-tillage intercropping test of potato varieties of Qingshu series was conducted in mulberry garden in winter to seek a fine intercropping pattern and to screen the suitable potato varieties. The results showed that compared with potatoes of conventional non-tillage cultivation, growth traits of the five potato varieties of Qingshu series were better in different growth periods, such as plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and the yield structure was improved. Potato weight and potato number per plant were increased by 21.14% and 16.32%, respectively. Potato production and the proportion of larger potatoes were raised by 5.92% and 11.94%, respectively. The yield of Qingshu 8 was the highest (37 070.37 kg/hm 2), 8.98% higher than CK. Therefore, mulberry intercropping potatoes was a new cultivation way to be generalized and applied in the production practice. Qingshu 8 was an ideal potato variety for non-tillage intercropping in mulberry garden.