• Authors:
    • Zuo, Y. M.
    • Zhang, F. S.
  • Source: Plant and Soil
  • Volume: 339
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Plants and humans cannot easily acquire iron from their nutrient sources although it is abundant in nature. Thus, iron deficiency is one of the major limiting factors affecting crop yields, food quality and human nutrition. Therefore, approaches need to be developed to increase Fe uptake by roots, transfer to edible plant portions and absorption by humans from plant food sources. Integrated strategies for soil and crop management are attractive not only for improving growing conditions for crops but also for exploiting a plant's potential for Fe mobilization and utilization. Recent research progress in soil and crop management has provided the means to resolve complex plant Fe nutritional problems through manipulating the rhizosphere (e.g., rhizosphere fertilization and water regulation), and crop management (includes managing cropping systems and screening for Fe efficient species and varieties). Some simple and effective soil management practices, termed 'rhizosphere fertilization' (such as root feeding and bag fertilization) have been developed and widely used by local farmers in China to improve the Fe nutrition of fruit plants. Production practices for rice cultivation are shifting from paddy-rice to aerobic rice to make more efficient use of irrigation water. This shift has brought about increases in Fe deficiency in rice, a new challenge depressing iron availability in rice and reducing Fe supplies to humans. Current crop management strategies addressing Fe deficiency include Fe foliar application, trunk injection, plant breeding for enriched Fe crop species and varieties, and selection of cropping systems. Managing cropping systems, such as intercropping strategies may have numerous advantages in terms of increasing Fe availability to plants. Studies of intercropping systems on peanut/maize, wheat/chickpea and guava/sorghum or -maize increased Fe content of crops and their seed, which suggests that a reasonable intercropping system of iron-efficient species could prevent or mitigate Fe deficiency in Fe-inefficient plants. This review provides a comprehensive comparison of the strategies that have been developed to address Fe deficiency and discusses the most recent advance in soil and crop management to improve the Fe nutrition of crops. These proofs of concept studies will serve as the basis for future Fe research and for integrated and optimized management strategies to alleviate Fe deficiency in farmers' fields.
  • Authors:
    • Kocourkova, D.
    • Neckar, K.
    • Fuksa, P.
    • Pivec, J.
    • Brant, V.
    • Venclova, V.
  • Source: Biomass and Bioenergy
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The biomass production dynamics of catch crops, volunteers and weeds in dependence on precipitation and air temperature, was studied in central Bohemia from 2004 to 2006. The cover of individual components of the growth was monitored during the same period. Also measured were energy and efficiency of utilization of global radiation by catch crops and volunteers. The catch crops included the following species: Brassica napus, Lolium multiforum, Lolium perenne, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Sinapis alba, Trifolium incarnatum, Raphanus sativus var. oleiformis and Trifolium subterraneum. The highest biomass production and the highest cover of catch crops were observed in treatments with S. alba (1382.0 kg ha(-1), 47.8%). The average biomass production (sum of catch crops, volunteers and weeds) was highest in treatments with S. alba, R. sativus, and P. tanacetifolia and lowest in treatments with B. napus, L. multiflorum and L. perenne. It was demonstrated that an increase in the percentage share of volunteers caused a decrease in the biomass production of catch crops. The average energy production ranged from 0.31 to 2.37 MJ m(-2) in treatments with catch crops, and from 0.25 to 0.89 MJ m(-2) in treatments with cereal volunteers. The highest effectivity of global radiation utilization, was determined in treatments with S. alba (0.11-0.47%). Based on regression analysis the closest dependence between biomass production from all treatments on the experimental site and precipitation was observed from 1st May till the time of sowing and the average air temperatures from the sowing period till the time of the last biomass production assessment. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Almeida, N. A.
    • Oliveira, I. R. de
    • Carvalho, L. M. de
    • Andrade, K. R.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Issue: 925
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare Miller), Apiaceae, a spice and medicinal plant from the Mediterranean region, is grown by family farmers without irrigation and under high temperature conditions of the Brazilian northeast. In this study, a field experiment was done in the semi-arid region of Sergipe state, Brazil, to evaluate the performance of fennel-bean intercrop under organic management, using a completely randomized block design with six replications and four treatments (fennel monocrop and fennel intercropped (additive model)) with two cultivars of beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris) and one cultivar of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata). Fennel plants were obtained from seeds and transplanted into the field at the beginning of the rainy season in June, while seeds of the beans and cowpea were being sown. Umbels of the fennel were harvested in January, 210 days after transplanting the fennel into the field. The fresh and dry mass of umbels, absolute and relative yield, land equivalent ratio (LER) and essential oil content were improved under the intercrop with cowpea and one cultivar of bean. No significant differences were detected on height and canopy areas among treatments, but any decrease in yield of fennel plants associated with intercrops with cowpea or bean were small. The intercrops studies confirmed the viability of intercropping fennel with cowpeas and beans.
  • Authors:
    • Huang, G. B.
    • Yang, C. H.
    • Chai, Q.
  • Source: ACTA AGRONOMICA SINICA
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue: 9
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: In oasis irrigation region of northwestern China, the decreasing of multiple cropping areas may lead to significant reduction of land and light use efficiencies due to serious water shortage. Therefore, water-saving irrigation is a priority in the research on theory and technology for intercropping system. Alternate irrigation is a technique to save water and enhance water use efficiency (WUE) simultaneously in common cropping systems. However, its effect is not clear on intercropping system. In 2006-2008 cropping years, we carried out a field experiment in oasis region of Hexi Corridor, Gansu province, China under wheat/maize intercropping to disclose the effects of alternate irrigation on crop yields, water consumption, and WUE. The results showed that, compared to sole cropping treatments, there was a significant increase of land equivalent ratio (LER) in the alternately irrigated wheat/maize intercropping treatment with the LER values ranging from 1.22 to 1.52 under different irrigation levels of the intercropping treatments. However, the difference of LERs between conventionally irrigated and alternately irrigated intercropping systems was not significant at the same irrigation quota. Compared to the conventionally irrigated intercropping treatment, there was no significant change of wheat yield in the alternately irrigated intercropping treatment, but significant increase by 11.4-36.4% in maize yield. Therefore, the total yield of wheat and maize in the alternately irrigated intercropping treatment was increased by 12.9 averagely. The water consumption in the alternately irrigated intercropping treatment had no significant increase compared to that of the conventionally irrigated intercropping treatment, with 1.2-19.4% higher than the weighted average of monoculture of both crops. The WUE of alternately irrigated intercropping treatment was 0.9-22.5% higher than that of the conventionally irrigated intercropping treatment, and 12.0-71.4% and 10.6-37.8% higher than that of wheat and maize monoculture, respectively. These results suggest that alternate irrigation is feasible in intercropping systems in arid oasis regions with the purpose of saving water and increasing WUE.
  • Authors:
    • Huang, P.
    • Chen, G. P.
    • Yu, A. Z.
    • Chai, Q.
  • Source: Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Several studies have shown that compared to sole cropping, well managed intercropping improves agricultural resources utilization efficiency, include radiation, nutrient, water and land. However, high productivity of traditional intercropping system has mainly depended on high input of agricultural resources. With severe water shortages in recent years (especially in mainland China), intercropping system of farming has continuously declined. The scientific challenge therefore is the determination of water consumption characteristics and systematic development of high-efficiency water-saving theories and technologies of intercropping system. In this study, a field experiment (comprising of wheat or maize sole cropping and wheat-maize intercropping systems under three different irrigation schemes) was conducted in 2008 in the Hexi Corridor oasis region. The study investigated soil evaporation characteristics and associated driving factors under the different cropping systems and treatments with the aim of laying the scientific basis for developing optimized irrigation techniques. The study showed that evapotranspiration ( ET) under wheat-maize intercropping was 41.44%-47.15% higher than the average ET under wheat and maize sole cropping systems. Total soil evaporation ( E) of intercropping system was significantly higher than that of sole cropping systems. However, daily E of intercropping system was significantly lower than that of maize sole cropping system. Also compared with sole cropping system of maize, wheat-maize intercropping system enhanced E/ET ratio. With increasing irrigation, total water consumption increased significantly under intercropping. However, the difference in water consumption between two adjacent irrigation treatments under sole cropping systems of wheat and maize was insignificant. The difference in E of sole cropping maize and intercropping wheat-maize was insignificant for different irrigation schemes. It then implied that high water consumption of intercropping system was mainly driven by high transpiration. Average daily E was positively correlated with water content in the 0-30 cm soil profile, temperature in the 0-25 cm soil profiles and average leaf area index of the crops. High E was driven by high water content in the 0-30 cm soil profile and temperature in the 0-25 cm soil profile of maize sole cropping system. On the average, wheat-maize intercropping not only reduced water consumption but also increased water and land use efficiency compared to sole cropping. This cut down wasteful crop transpiration, which was an effective means of water-saving irrigation.
  • Authors:
    • Liang, Y.
    • Gao, S. R.
    • Bo, C. P.
    • Yang, Y.
    • Wang, S. W.
    • Pan, C. D.
    • Chen, G. A.
  • Source: Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Objective: The Purpose of this article is to provide scientific basis for its water and fertilizer management in South of Xinjiang under the condition of oasis irrigation, through analysis of the spatial distribution characteristics of apricot tree absorbing roots in apricot-wheat intercropping systems. Method: With profile digging and layered sampling methods, the spatial distribution of absorbing roots of 15-year-old apricot trees in the intercropping systems is analyzed by using WinRHIZO Pro2009a analysis system. Result: In horizontal directions (0-300 cm), the length density of the absorbing roots in the rows is decreasing with increasing distance from the trees. The maximum root length density is in the 0-50 cm from the trees. The length density of the absorbing roots between the rows is slightly increasing first, and then decreasing with increasing distance from the trees. The maximum root length density is in the 50-100 cm from the trees. The total length of the absorbing roots in the rows is only less 1.11% than it is between the rows. In vertical directions (0-150 cm), the length density of the absorbing roots in the rows and between the rows is increasing first, and then decreasing with increase of soil depth. The maximum root length density in the rows is in the 20-30 cm soil layer, and between the rows is in the 30-40 cm soil layer. Conclusion: Under the condition of oasis irrigation, the spatial distributions of apricot tree absorbing roots are differences between intra-row and inter-row in the intercropping systems, but the differences of total length of the absorbing roots are small. The 0-60 cm soil layer in the 0-120 cm from the trees is important for water and fertilizer management in apricot-wheat intercropping systems. The position of fertilization in the rows and between the rows should be under the crown 2/3-4/5 site at the prosperous fruit stage of apricot trees. The fertilization depth between the rows (30-50 cm) should be deeper about 10-20 cm than in the rows (20-40 cm).
  • Authors:
    • Giuffre, L.
    • Giardina, E. B.
    • Ciarlo, E. A.
    • Garcia Torres, T. P.
  • Source: REVISTA FACULTAD DE AGRONOMÍA Universidad de Buenos Aires
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue: 1/2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The dynamics of nutrient availability and other soil properties can be strongly altered by agricultural practices like intercropping. A test was made on an agricultural soil with the following treatments: (i) sole cropped soybean, (II) sole cropped maize and (III) intercropped corn-soybean in a 1:2 ratio. Surface soil samplings were made in two moments: the first one (F1) was made with corn at V5 and soybean just emerged; the second one (F2) with corn crop at R1 and soybean crop at V7-R1, both at two distances of the furrows: 5 and 19 cm. Oxidizable C contents were always maximum at the treatments including corn cropping. At both dates, extractable P was maximum at sole corn and minimum at sole soybean crop, which can be attributed to a strong uptake by the leguminous plant. In the first measurement date, at 5 cm of the corresponding furrow, nitrate availability was significantly greater at the soybean treatments with respect to treatments including corn, whereas in the second date, nitrate availability was minimum at sole soybean, which seems to be due to differences in crops development. Finally, the practice of intercropping, within the frame of this test, did not prove to be a viable alternative to limit the existence of high nitrate levels.
  • Authors:
    • Muthukrishnan, P.
    • Fanish, S. A.
  • Source: Madras Agricultural Journal
  • Volume: 98
  • Issue: 10/12
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiments were conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during kharif 2008 and 2009 to study the effect of different fertigation levels and intercrops in intensive maize based intercropping system. The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications. The experiment comprised of nine fertigation levels in main plot, viz M 1, Surface irrigation with soil application of 100% RDF; M 2, Drip irrigation with soil application of 100% RDF; M 3, Drip fertigation of 75% RDF; M 4, Drip fertigation of 100% RDF; M 5, Drip fertigation of 125% RDF; M 6, Drip fertigation of 150% RDF; M 7, Drip fertigation of 50% RDF (50% P and K as Water Soluble Fertilizer (WSF)); M8, Drip fertigation of 75% RDF (50% P and K as WSF); M 9, Drip fertigation of 100% RDF (50% P and K as WSF) and four intercrops in sub plot viz, S 1, Vegetable coriander; S 2, Radish; S 3, Beet root; S 4, Onion. Drip fertigation at 100 per cent RDF with 50 per cent P and K as WSF in maize+radish intercropping system recorded a higher gross income of Rs. 83438/ha whereas, higher net return and benefit cost ratio of Rs. 56858 and 3.24, respectively, were recorded by drip fertigation at 150 per cent RDF with radish as intercrop system.
  • Authors:
    • Manoharan, S.
    • Muthukrishnan, P.
    • Fanish, S. A.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Agricultural Research
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2008-2009 at Tamil Nadu agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the effect of drip fertigation on growth, yield and economics of intensive maize based intercropping system. Drip fertigated maize with 100 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) with 50 per cent P and K as water soluble fertilizer recorded significantly higher grain yield followed by 150 per cent RDF. Among the different intercropping systems, radish intercropped with maize registered higher maize grain equivalent yield of 11153 kg ha -1. Drip irrigation saved water upto 43 per cent, besides enhancing the water use efficiency. Higher net returns (Rs. 56858) and B:C ratio (3.24) were obtained under dripfertigation with 150 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer and radish as intercrop.
  • Authors:
    • Muthukrishnan, P.
    • Fanish, S. A.
    • Sekar, S. P.
  • Source: Crop Research (Hisar)
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue: 1/2/3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Field experiments were conducted during kharif 2008 and 2009 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the effect of drip fertigation on growth, yield and economics in intensive maize based intercropping system. During kharif 2008, drip fertigated maize at 150% RDF recorded significantly higher grain yield of 7338 kg/ha. Whereas during kharif 2009, higher grain yield of 7464 kg/ha was recorded under drip fertigation of 100% RDF with 50% P and K as water soluble fertilizer (WSF). Among the different intercropping systems, radish intercropped with maize registered a higher maize grain equivalent yield (MEY) of 11153 kg/ha. Drip irrigation helped to save the water upto 43% compared to surface irrigation besides enhancing the water use efficiency. A higher net return (Rs. 56858) and B:C ratio (3.24) were obtained under drip fertigation of 150% RDF+radish as intercrop combination.