• Authors:
    • Tiwary ,P.
    • Manual, D. K.
    • Prasad, J.
    • Hajare, T. N.
    • Challa, O.
  • Source: Agropedology
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2007
  • Summary: An experiment was conducted to compare the production potential and economic feasibility of various crop combinations, i.e. cotton (cv. Anjali 561) intercropped with cowpea, urd bean and dhaincha, and soyabean (cv. JS 335) intercropped with maize, sorghum and pigeon pea, under rainfed farming conditions in Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, during 2002-04. The soils of the area are 22-24 cm deep (underlain by murrum/saprolite up to 40-45 cm), well-drained (Lithic Ustorthents) and occur on 1-3 and 3-5% slope. Cotton intercropping comprised row to row at 90 cm and plant to plant at 45 cm, while soyabean intercropping comprised 2 rows of main and 2 rows of intercrop at 45 cm. Irrespective of the slope, the highest yield of cotton was recorded under cotton + cowpea cropping system; however, the highest net return was observed under cotton + cowpea cropping system. For soyabeans, the highest yield was recorded under sole soyabean crop in both soil slopes. Among the intercropping systems, soyabean + pigeon pea had the highest yield followed by sorghum under both slopes during 2002-03. In 2003-04, soyabean + sorghum gave the highest soyabean equivalent yield in both soils followed by soyabean + pigeon pea. Comparative data on gross return, net return, average net profit and land equivalent ratio for both cotton and soyabean cropping systems are also presented.
  • Authors:
    • Raundal, P. U.
    • Kambale, A. B.
    • Chaudhari, P. M.
    • Chitodkar, S. S.
  • Source: International Journal of Agricultural Sciences
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2006
  • Summary: A study was conducted in Maharashtra, India during 2002, 2003 and 2004 under rainfed conditions to evaluate the effect of intercropping with pigeon pea (cv. BSMR-78), sorghum (cv. CHS-14) and cotton (cv. Y-1) on the productivity of soyabean (cultivars JS-335 and MACS-124). The spacings were 30 * 10, 65 * 20, 45 * 15 and 45 * 22.5 cm for soyabean, pigeon pea, sorghum and cotton, respectively, under soyabean intercropping, at 3:1 row proportion. Soyabean + pigeon pea produced the highest soyabean equivalent yield (24.06 q/ha), gross monetary returns (Rs. 30 322/ha), net monetary returns (Rs. 20 010/ha), land equivalent ratio (1.38) and benefit:cost ratio (2.92).
  • Authors:
    • Mohamed, A. E. M.
    • Arab, Y. A.
    • El-Shehaby, A. I.
  • Source: Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research
  • Volume: 84
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2006
  • Summary: Growing some summer crops - preceding garlic - in heavily infested potted soil significantly reduced white rot disease (Sclerotium cepivorum) of garlic. Reductions in disease incidence obtained with sugarcane, roquette [ Eruca vesicaria] and sorghum as intercrops were 80.0, 73.3 and 66.7% of the control treatment, respectively. Reductions in disease incidence obtained with maize, squash, pepper, soyabean, cotton, sesame, cowpea and roselle ranged between 53.3 and 40.0%. Cauliflower, lucerne, broad bean, nigella, Egyptian clover, coriander and roquette grown in pots, as winter crops preceding garlic, exhibited 46.7-26.7% reduction in white rot disease. Intercropping cauliflower, coriander and roquette with garlic reduced the disease by 46.0-53.8%. Seedling root exudates of cauliflower, coriander and sorghum significantly reduced mycelial growth of S. cepivorum on PDA plates more than did radish and sugarcane. Cauliflower exhibited the highest reduction in mycelial growth, followed by sorghum and coriander. Ascending rates of cauliflower root exudates resulted in a higher reduction in fungus growth. Counts of fungi were significantly higher in soil of sorghum and roquette compared with sugarcane and coriander, while coriander rhizosphere yielded the highest density of fungi. Actinomycetes were detected in the rhizosphere at a highest count with coriander but were completely absent in the soil. Bacteria, in contrast, existed only in the soil where actinomycetes were completely absent. The highest count of bacteria was detected in sorghum soil. Actinomycetes inhabited soil only while bacteria and fungi existed in soil and rhizosphere of cauliflower, radish and garlic intercropped with the two crops. Cauliflower significantly increased counts of fungi and bacteria in rhizosphere when intercropped with garlic compared with those detected with garlic alone. Some recommendations are made.
  • Authors:
    • Sweeney, D.
    • Kelley, K.
  • Source: Agronomy Journal
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2005
  • Summary: In the eastern Great Plains, winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) is often rotated with other crops to diversify cropping systems. In these multicropping systems, wheat typically is planted with conservation tillage methods, but previous crop residues influence fertilizer N management. This field study was conducted from 1992 through 2001 in southeastern Kansas on a Parsons silt loam soil (fine, mixed, thermic, Mollic Albaqualf). The objectives were to determine effects and interactions of previous crop {grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.]}, tillage system [reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT)], N rate (67 and 134 kg ha -1), and preplant placement (surface-broadcast and subsurface-knife) of urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN, 280 g kg -1) on wheat grain yield, yield components, and plant N uptake in a 2-yr cropping rotation. Wheat yields averaged 3.39 Mg ha -1 following soybean compared with 2.90 Mg ha -1 following grain sorghum. Tillage effects on grain yield were smaller than other treatment factors, averaging 3.23 Mg ha -1 for RT and 3.06 Mg ha -1 for NT. Grain yields were greatest in all cropping systems for the high-N-rate subsurface-knife treatment. Plant N uptake responses indicated that grain yield differences were primarily related to greater immobilization of both fertilizer and soil N following grain sorghum, compared with soybean, and to better utilization of subsurface-knifed N than surface-broadcast N. Results indicate that wheat yield potential is more strongly influenced by previous crop, fertilizer N rate, and N placement method than tillage system.
  • Authors:
    • Van Acker, R. C.
    • Nazarko, O. M.
    • Entz, M. H.
  • Source: Canadian Journal of Plant Science
  • Volume: 85
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2005
  • Summary: There are many economic and health reasons for reducing pesticide use in Canada. Herbicide use on field crops is by far the most common pesticide use in Canada. This paper is a review of four topics related to herbicide use reduction on field crops in Canada: (1) broad strategies and (2) specific tactics for herbicide use reduction; (3) factors affecting adoption; and 4) research approaches for improving the implementation of herbicide use reduction. Numerous tactics exist to use herbicides more efficiently and herbicides can sometimes be replaced by non-chemical weed control methods. Many of these tactics and methods have been investigated and demonstrated for use on field crops in Canada. However, herbicide use reduction is fundamentally dependent upon preventative strategies designed to create robust cropping systems that maintain low weed densities. Diverse crop rotation forms the basis of preventative strategies as it inherently varies cropping system conditions to avoid weed adaptation. There is evidence that residual weed densities resulting from herbicide use reduction are manageable within competitive cropping systems. A great deal of research has been done on herbicide use reduction on field crops in Canada, and most projects report definite possibilities for herbicide use reduction in field crop production in Canada. Synthesizing and extending this information and customizing it for use on individual farms remain challenges. Collaboration between researchers and farmers can help to build successful strategies for herbicide use reduction which reflect the context of modem fanning, the will of farmers and the culture of technology adoption among farmers.
  • Authors:
    • Hegde, M.
    • Kulkarni, K. A.
    • Lingappa, S.
  • Source: Indian Journal of Plant Protection
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2003
  • Summary: A study was conducted during the 1997 and 1998 kharif seasons in Karnataka, India, to evaluate the impact of intercrops on the conservation of Chrysoperla carnea and other natural enemies in the cotton ecosystem. Cotton hybrid (DCH-32) was grown alone (monocrop) or intercropped with cowpea, soyabean, groundnut, sorghum, chilli and lucerne. The average population of C. carnea and spiders were significantly high on cotton intercropped with lucerne, cowpea, and groundnut. The parasitization of bollworm egg and larvae were significantly high on cotton intercropped with sorghum and lucerne. Among the intercrops tested, lucerne conserved overall high natural enemy populations, while the natural enemy populations were least on cotton intercropped with soyabean. Similarly, the pest load was low on cotton grown in intercropping systems except with soyabean. Significantly higher number of good opened bolls (GOB) and seed cotton yield were harvested from cotton intercropped with lucerne. Cotton intercropped with groundnut and cowpea performed equally better and was at par with cotton intercropped with lucerne. However, intercropping with sorghum recorded the least number of GOB and seed cotton yield.
  • Authors:
    • Sabirov, A. M.
    • Gareev, R. G.
  • Source: Kormoproizvodstvo
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2003
  • Summary: In studies in the Kazan' region of Russia in 1995-99, the optimal rate of sowing barley as a cover crop for spring rape was found to be 2.5 million germinated seeds/ha (50% sowing rate), while for oats the sowing rate ranged between 50 and 75%. At these rates, the germination of spring rape was no less than 86%, with survival no less than 68%.
  • Authors:
    • Crawford, M.
    • Ransom, K.
    • Hirth, J.
    • Harris, R.
    • Naji, R.
  • Source: Solutions for a better environment: Proceedings of the 11th Australian Agronomy Conference, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 2-6 February 2003
  • Year: 2003
  • Summary: Companion cropping (also known as intercropping) of lucerne involves sowing an annual crop into an existing lucerne stand. A sample of eight farmers from north central Victoria, Australia, who currently companion crop, were interviewed to document the impact of this practice on grain production, and to determine why and how they used this approach in their farming system. All eight farmers companion cropped lucerne to produce grain for either human or livestock consumption. Wheat, barley, oat and triticale were most commonly sown into lucerne stands, with rape less frequently companion cropped. Most companion-cropped stands of lucerne were either winter-active or highly winter-active cultivars and most had densities of 10-30 plants/m 2. They were commonly 9-12 months old, although some stands up to 10 years old were successfully companion cropped. Sowing rates of the annual crop were generally greater than those used in conventional monoculture cropping, and most farmers sowed diagonally across existing lucerne rows. Most interviewed farmers adopted companion cropping because of perceived better economic returns from cropping rather than grazing their second-year stands of lucerne, which then became more persistent and productive stands for future grazing. Farmers who companion cropped into mature stands aimed to maintain year-round plant transpiration to minimize the impact of their cropping practices on local groundwater systems, through a better hydrologic balance between the rainfall and their vegetation. Decreased grain yields from companion-cropped crops were common, and were estimated to be 10 to 80% of those obtained in the absence of lucerne. The magnitude of the yield decreases appeared to be most strongly influenced by seasonal conditions. The use of herbicides for in-crop lucerne suppression was perceived to enhance grain quality by slowing lucerne growth over the late winter-spring period, thereby reducing lucerne seed and herbage contamination at harvest. As seasonal and soil water conditions critically influenced the success of herbicide applications, specialist advice was often sought.
  • Authors:
    • Hoyt, G. D.
    • Walgenbach, J. F.
    • Hummel, R. L.
    • Kennedy, G. G.
  • Source: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
  • Volume: 93
  • Issue: 1-3
  • Year: 2002
  • Summary: Populations of foliar insect pests and natural enemies were monitored in vegetable production systems incorporating varying degrees of sustainable practices in Fletcher, NC, USA. Two types of tillage (conventional plow and disk, strip-tillage), two input approaches (chemically-based, biologically-based) and two cropping schedules (continuous tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), 3-year rotation of corn (Zea mays L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and tomato) were employed from 1995 to 1998. Tomato pest pressure was relatively low in all years, resulting in a limited impact of production systems on potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and its associated parasitoids and predators. Thrips (Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera)) populations were significantly higher in the biological input treatments in 3 of 4 years. Lepidopterous (primarily Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)) damage on tomato was significantly higher in biological treatments in all years, damage by thrips and pentatomids (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) increasing each year in the continuous tomato crop schedule. Most insect populations were significantly influenced by type of insecticide input or ground cover. Few population measurements were affected by tillage type. Foliar insect problems in commercial vegetable production may be associated predominantly with insecticide input (i.e. more damage with biologically based insecticides) and use of intercropping (i.e. more damage in systems with living mulch); however, the long term effects of tillage and crop rotation remain to be seen. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Hoyt, G. D.
    • Walgenbach, J. F.
    • Hummel, R. L.
    • Kennedy, G. G.
  • Source: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
  • Volume: 93
  • Issue: 1-3
  • Year: 2002
  • Summary: Populations of epigeal arthropods were monitored in vegetable production systems under varying degrees of sustainable agricultural practices in Fletcher, NC (USA). Two tillage types (conventional plow and disk, strip-tillage (ST)), two input approaches (chemically based, biologically based) and two cropping schedules (continuous tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., 3-year rotation of sweet corn [Zea mays L.]/cabbage [Brassica oleracea L.], cucumber [Cucumis sativus L.]/cabbage and tomato) were employed from 1995-1998. A second study with tomatoes was performed in 1997-1998 to separate effects of pesticide use, intercropping and herbicide application. Pitfall traps (48-h sample period) were used at similar to25-day intervals to monitor relative activity of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), staphylinid (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) beetles and lycosid spiders (Araneidae: Lycosidae). Carabids and lycosids appeared to be more active in systems with ground cover. Trap catches of carabid species were not significantly affected by insecticide input, but trap catches of lycosids were lower in plots with conventional insecticide use. No consistent effect of tillage was found over time, although Scarites spp. were more active in minimally disturbed habitats in 1998. Two distinct patterns of seasonal activity were observed for carabid beetles and lycosid spiders. Ground cover generally enhanced abundance of carabids and lycosids, while tillage type, pesticide use and crop rotation had different effects. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.