19982015
  • Authors:
    • Ewusi-Mensah, N.
    • Logah, V.
    • Tetteh, F.
  • Source: Journal of Plant Sciences
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field experiment to evaluate Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and maize grain yield under different soil amendments and cropping systems was conducted in 2006 and 2007 at the Soil Research Institute, Kwadaso, Kumasi. The experiment was a split plot with three replications. The main plot factor (cropping systems) consisted of continuous maize, maize/soybean intercropping and maize cowpea rotation systems, the sub-plot (amendments) comprised of Poultry Manure (PM) at 4 t ha -1, poultry manure+chemical fertilizer (PM+CF) at 2 t ha -1 (PM)+45-30-30 kg ha -1 (NPK 15-15-15), Chemical Fertilizer (CF) at 90-60-60 kg ha -1 NPK 15-15-15 and a control (no amendment). Soil samples were taken at 21 and 84 days after amendment (DAA). Generally, PM+CF produced the highest range of SOC (1.14-1.37%). The least (0.98-1.28%) was recorded on the control plots. Plots amended with chemical fertilizer alone or in combination with poultry manure out-yielded the control in maize grain yield. Positive correlations between SOC at 84 DAA and maize grain yield were recorded in the major (r=0.70*) and minor (r=0.89**) rainy seasons of 2006 which established crop yield a function of SOC at harvest. Land equivalent ratios of sole maize (maize grown under continuous maize system) and maize intercropped with soybean were
  • Authors:
    • Beauvallet, G.
    • Gaucher, D.
    • Loison, R.
    • Jaunatre, V.
  • Source: 4eme Conference Internationale sur les Methodes Alternatives en Protection des Cultures. Evolution des cadres reglementaires europeen et francais. Nouveaux moyens et strategies Innovantes, Nouveau Siecle, Lille, France, 8-10 mars 2011
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Black scurf affects tubers' quality of presentation and can cause seedlings if the seed tuber or soil is infested. It is causing severe economic losses. Chemical control exists but is not 100% effective. Under the plan ECOPHYTO 2018, we are looking for new cropping systems that tend to reduce the use of pesticides at the expense of alternative products. Since 2006, in order to fight against this disease, we have tested various products such as plant defenses stimulators, antagonistic microorganisms, extracts of plants, animals and minerals. Some alternative products either alone or with a reduced dose of fungicide show encouraging results. Finally, tests biofumigation using mustard intercropping have been underway since 2009.
  • Authors:
    • Majchrzak, L.
  • Source: Fragmenta Agronomica
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The present studies were aimed at determine the allopathic interspecies interactions of winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) mixture with winter triticale ( Triticale L.) and winter rye ( Secale cereale L.), spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) with spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) and winter triticale ( Triticale L.) on germination and seedling growth. The preliminary intercrop influences were done in a laboratory using developing dishes. These tests allowed us to determine the allelopathic effect of tested grain species on the germinating ability of seeds of other grain crop species as well as on the length of root, coleoptiles length, fresh and air dry matter of roots and coleoptiles. The results showed that neighboring of wheat reduced germinating ability about 11%, reduced root system about 26%, and fresh matter of coleoptiles 42% as compared to the treatment with pure sowing of barley grain. There was no inhibiting influence allelopatic potential of triticale root exudates in his mixture relation with barley and wheat in grounds of analyses features. The research showed growth of germinating ability of winter wheat in mixture with winter triticale, but difference was not significant.
  • Authors:
    • Zhang, F.
    • Stewart, B.
    • Miao, Y.
  • Source: Agronomy for Sustainable Development
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: China is facing one of the largest challenges of this century to continue to increase annual cereal production to about 600 Mt by 2030 to ensure food security with shrinking cropland and limited resources, while maintaining or improving soil fertility, and protecting the environment. Rich experiences in integrated and efficient utilization of different strategies of crop rotation, intercropping, and all possible nutrient resources accumulated by Chinese farmers in traditional farming systems have been gradually abandoned and nutrient management shifted to over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers. China is now the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of chemical fertilizers. Over application of nitrogen (N) is common in intensive agricultural regions, and current N-uptake efficiency was reported to be only 28.3, 28.2 and 26.1% for rice, wheat and maize, respectively, and less than 20% in intensive agricultural regions and for fruit trees or vegetable crops. In addition to surface and groundwater pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, over-application of N fertilizers has caused significant soil acidification in major Chinese croplands, decreasing soil pH by 0.13 to 2.20. High yield as a top priority, small-scale farming, lack of temporal synchronization of nutrient supply and crop demand, lack of effective extension systems, and hand application of fertilizers by farmers are possible reasons leading to the over-application problems. There is little doubt that current nutrient management practices are not sustainable and more efficient management systems need to be developed. A review of long-term experiments conducted around the world indicated that chemical fertilizer alone is not enough to improve or maintain soil fertility at high levels and the soil acidification problem caused by overapplication of synthetic N fertilizers can be reduced if more fertilizer N is applied as NO 3- relative to ammonium- or urea-based N fertilizers. Organic fertilizers can improve soil fertility and quality, but long-term application at high rates can also lead to more nitrate leaching, and accumulation of P, if not managed well. Well-managed combination of chemical and organic fertilizers can overcome the disadvantages of applying single source of fertilizers and sustainably achieve higher crop yields, improve soil fertility, alleviate soil acidification problems, and increase nutrient-use efficiency compared with only using chemical fertilizers. Crop yield can be increased through temporal diversity using crop rotation strategies compared with continuous cropping and legume-based cropping systems can reduce carbon and nitrogen losses. Crop yield responses to N fertilization can vary significantly from year to year due to variation in weather conditions and indigenous N supply, thus the commonly adopted prescriptive approach to N management needs to be replaced by a responsive in-season management approach based on diagnosis of crop growth, N status and demand. A crop sensor-based in-season site-specific N management strategy was able to increase Nuptake efficiency by 368% over farmers' practices in the North China Plain. Combination of these well-tested nutrient management principles and practices with modern crop management technologies is needed to develop sustainable nutrient management systems in China that can precisely match field-to-field and year-to-year variability in nutrient supply and crop demand for both single crops and crop rotations to not only improve nutrient-use efficiency but also increase crop yield and protect the environment. In addition, innovative and effective extension and service-providing systems to assist farmers in adopting and applying new management systems and technologies are also crucially important for China to meet the grand challenge of food security, nutrient-use efficiency and sustainable development.
  • Authors:
    • Nedunchezhiyan, M.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agronomy
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiments were conducted at Dumduma, Bhubaneswar, for three consecutive years (2006-2008) to assess the sweet potato based strip intercropping systems with respect to productivity, nutrient uptake, competition and economic parameters. Sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas L.)+pigeonpea [ Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] strip intercropping system recorded significantly higher root equivalent yield (13.53 t/ha) compared to other cropping systems except sole sweet potato. The total yield gain in sweet potato+pigeonpea system was 28.8% and 24.7% over sweet potato+rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and sweet potato+ragi ( Eleusine coracans L.) strip intercropping system. Root equivalent yield of sole sweet potato was significantly higher than the sole stand of other crops and strip intercropping systems except sweet potato+pigeonpea. Competition indices like land equivalent ratio (LER), area time equivalent ratio (ATER), aggressivity (A) and monetary advantage index (MAI) values were higher for sweet potato+pigeonpea strip intercropping system. Sweet potato appears more competitive than companion crops like rice or ragi. Partial competition ratio value of companion crops like maize ( Zea mays L.) and pigeonpea had an edge over sweet potato in sweet potato+maize and sweet potato+pigeonpea strip intercropping systems. The uptake of N, P and K were observed to be more when sweet potato, maize and pigeonpea were included in the strip intercropping systems. The root equivalent yield and competition indices and economic parameters indicated that the strip intercropping of sweet potato with pigeonpea is biologically sustainable and economically viable.
  • Authors:
    • Rao, K.
    • Laxminarayana, K.
    • Nedunchezhiyan, M.
    • Satapathy, B.
  • Source: Acta Agronomica Hungarica
  • Volume: 59
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Centre of the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Dumduma, Bhubaneswar for three consecutive years (2006-2008) under rainfed conditions on Alfisols to quantify the effects of strip intercropping on crop yields and yield components. A significantly higher yield was obtained from sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas L.) border rows when pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) was intercropped. Analyses of sweet potato yield components indicated that the number of roots/plant, root length and root diameter were significantly higher in border rows when rice ( Oryza sativa L.), finger millet ( Eleusine coracana L.) and pigeonpea were used as intercrop compared to monoculture sweet potato. The number of tubers/plant of sweet potato in border rows was significantly lower when maize ( Zea mays L.) was intercropped, but the root length and root diameter were found to increase compared to sole sweet potato. The yields of rice, finger millet, maize and pigeonpea in inside rows in strip cropping were a little higher than in monoculture. The yield difference was mainly due to an increase in the number of seeds/panicle or cob. Sweet potato was the dominant crop when grown with rice or finger millet, but it was the subordinate crop when grown along with maize or pigeonpea. Sweet potato yields were consistently higher in strip intercropping than in monoculture when calculated across all the strips on an equal area basis. A strip intercropping system involving sweet potato+pigeonpea resulted in a higher land equivalent ratio (1.31) and net return ($623.9) compared to the other forms of intercropping and to monocropping.
  • Authors:
    • Amanullah, A.
    • Islam, M.
    • Bashar, M.
    • Ahmed, T.
    • Rahman, M.
  • Source: International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Technology
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: A field experiment was conducted during 2008 to 2009 cropping season at Panchbibi upazilla of Joypurhat district in Bangladesh to study the productivity of sugarcane with five selected winter crops as first and sesame as second intercrop in paired row planting system under Tista Meander flood plain soils of Bangladesh. Five different winter crops namely, lentil, onion, mustard, potato, garlic as first intercrops followed by sesame as second intercrop were grown with sugarcane variety Isd 26. The highest tiller (212.49*10 -3 ha -1), highest millable cane (108.32*10 -3 ha -1) and highest cane yield (103.98 t ha -1) were obtained in T5 (T1+Potato-sesame) treatment. The highest second intercrop sesame yield found in T4 (T1+Mustard-sesame) treatment (0.44 t ha -1). The highest equivalent cane yield was as intercrop (82.09 t ha -1) and the highest total adjusted cane yield (186.07 t ha -1) were found in T5 (T1+Potato-sesame). The highest Brix (%) was obtained in T1 (paired row cane) treatment (20.30%). The highest total production cost T5 (T1+Potato-sesame) treatment (Tk. 95,000.00 ha -1). The highest gross return and highest gross margin were obtain in T5 (T1+Potato-sesame) treatment (Tk. 3,28,971.76 ha -1) and (Tk. 2,33,971.76 ha -1), respectively. The highest benefit cost ratio (3.46) was found in T5 (T1+Potato-sesame) treatment and lowest (2.38) in T1 (paired row cane only) treatment. It is concluded that the potato as first and sesame as the second intercrop grown in paired row transplanted sugarcane seems to be profitable intercropping combinations for sugarcane farming.
  • Authors:
    • Alam, M.
    • Islam, M.
    • Bashar, M.
    • Rahman, M.
  • Source: International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Technology
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: An experiment was conducted at farmers' field at Kapasia upazila of Gazipur district in Bangladesh during 2002-2003 cropping season to the profitability of chewing sugarcane intercropping in Modhupur Tract soils of Bangladesh. Three selected winter crops namely, potato, gardenpea and tomato as intercrops were grown with chewing sugarcane promising clone Amrita. The highest tiller production at 150 DAT was recorded in T4 (Paired row cane+Tomato) treatment (281.07*10 -3 ha -1) and lowest in T1 (Paired row cane) treatment (248.43*10 -3 ha -1). The highest millable cane, highest cane yield and highest Brix (%) were obtained in T2 (Paired row cane+Potato) treatment. The highest price of millable cane, highest price of intercrop, highest total price, highest equivalent millable cane, highest total adjusted millable cane, highest total production cost, highest gross return and highest gross margin were obtained in T2 (Paired row cane+Potato) treatment. The highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) was found in T2 (Paired row cane+Potato) treatment (10.05) and lowest in T1 (paired row cane) treatment (8.95). Results indicated that strong possibilities of chewing sugarcane Amrita with potato intercrop cultivation in Gazipur district of Bangladesh.
  • Authors:
    • Kulig, B.
    • Ropek, D.
  • Source: Progress in Plant Protection
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The occurrence and harmfulness of pest in field bean cultivated in pure sowing and in faba bean mixed with naked oat was evaluated in field experiment carried out in 2006-2008. Faba bean plants in pure sowing were more severely infested with Aphis fabae and Bruchus rufimanus than in intercrops. The cultivation method had only slight effect on the occurrence of pea weevil. It is recommended to sow faba bean in mixture with naked oat in organic farms.
  • Authors:
    • Chernchom, P.
    • Wetayaprasit, P.
    • Somboonsuke, B.
    • Pacheerat, K.
  • Source: Kasetsart Journal, Social Sciences
  • Volume: 32
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The rubber agroforestry system is an alternative agriculture practice for rubber smallholders to enhance the ecological integrity and crop diversity. The data collection for the study of diversification of smallholding rubber agroforestry system (SRAS) included 300 rubber farms of 21 systems in the south, east, and northeast of Thailand. The project results revealed that there are a multitude of 21 rubber farming systems in Thailand. These systems can be classified into three main types: (1) the intercropping rubber-food crop system, growing short-lived plants, for example, pineapple, chili, banana, rice, sweet potato, long bean and corn, for a rubber period, no longer than 36 months; (2) the rubber-fruit crop system, growing multicrop within the rubber area during the rubber productive period. The most common fruit crops that have been grown in Thailand are guava, gnetum, long kong, salacca, mangosteen, durian, and levistona, etc., and (3) the rubber-timber species system, normally yielding higher income to rubber smallholders since the sales of both rubber and wood products are at the same time and this is coupled with the presently high value of wood. The important timber varieties in the rubber area are neem and teak. As for profitability of Smallholding Rubber Agro forestry System (SRAS), it was noted that pineapple, chili, salacca, and gnetum are highly profitable. However, in the rubber-pineapple system which yields the highest income, the cost of investment is the highest too, when compared to the rubber-gnetum system which requires minimal input and low cost of production and management. The main conditions for decision-making in the rubber intercropping system are as follows: (1) farm household labor requirement, (2) knowledge and experience, (3) extension and policy implication, (4) marketing opportunity, (5) consistent capability of local communities, and (6) land topography and sustainability. For SRAS development strategy in the southern Thailand, improvement should be made on pricing and marketing of agroforestry products, appropriate technology for higher productivity, greater farm efficiency and risk reduction at farm level, and more synchronized co-ordination among stakeholder agencies at the regional level.