A study of the potential of hedgerow intercropping in semi-arid India using a two-way systematic design

The potential of hedgerow intecrropping with Leucaena leucocephala was explored on vertic Inceptisols over 4 years at ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India. The study was conducted using a systematic layout involving different alley widths ranging from 1.35 to 4.95 m and with varying distances between hedge and crops. The alleys were cropped with alternate rows of sorghum and pigeonpea. Hedges composed double Leucaena hedgerows 60 cm apart were periodically harvested for fodder. Sole crops of all components and a sorghum/pigeonpea intercrop were included in all four replications of the study.Starting in the second year, Leucaena was progressively more competitive to annual crops, causing substantial yield reduction. Competition (primarily for moisture) was most severe in narrow alleys and was greatest on pigeonpea.The growth of Leucaena was not sufficient to compensate for reduced crop yields. Land equivalent ratios (LERs) calculated on the basis of grain yield of crops and Leucaena fodder yields showed that hedgerow intercropping (HI) was advantageous over sole crops only during the first two years using wide alleys, but disadvantegeous in the last two years. LERs calculated on the basis of total dry matter indicated only a small advantage for HI (13–17 percent) over sole crops in wider (>4 m) alleys. Average returns per year from HI exceeded those of the most productive annual crop system (sorghum/pigeonpea intercropping) by 8 percent in 4.05 m alleys, and by 16 percent in 4.95 m alleys. Fodder production during the dry season was 40 percent of the annual total in these alley widths. Thus hedgerow intercropping at 4–5 m alley width is not very attractive for farmers in semi-arid India, which has 600–700 mm of annual rainfall. There is a need to examine the potential of HI in wider alleys. The merits and limitations of the systematic design are discussed.     

The Quantitative Evaluation of Output Efficiency in Different Cropping Pattems

Quantitative indexes such as land equivalent ratio, yield equivalent and value of output equivalent were used to evaluate output efficiencies of different cropping patterns, i.e., sequential cropping, intercrops and crop rotation. Compared to single cropping, land use efficiencies under sequential cropping, intercrops and crop rotation were raised by 62, 38 and 21%, respectively. The unit area yield under sequential cropping, intercrops and crop rotation were raised by 63, 29 and 16%, respectively. The unit area value was also enhanced under sequential cropping and intercrops, 76 and 35% higher than that under single cropping. The paper provides a useful tool for comparing farm output efficiency and build up a theoretical basis for further research on output efficiency of various cropping patterns in the future.     

Pea-oat intercrops are superior to pea-wheat and pea-barley intercrops

Abstract

A three-year field experiment was conducted in Estonia to determine which combinations of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum distichon L.) were most suitable for mixed cultivation and the effect of pea on the yield potential of cereals. The inclusion of pea in cereal seeds and the increasing of its seed density led to substantial decreases in the grain yields of the cereal component. The reason for these decreases was the formation of smaller grains in cereals when intercropped with pea. The inclusion of pea in a cereal crop and the increasing of its seed density led to substantial increases in the protein content of the cereal grains. In barley and oats the increases in grain protein content were the lowest of the three cereals. At the same time, the maximum protein yield per area unit in cereals was obtained from plots of pure crops. In a mix with pea, the amounts of nitrogen consumed by cereals decreased and the protein yield of cereals per area unit were reduced in intercrops. Pea-cereal mixes had an advantage over cereal sole crops with regard to protein yield, due to the pea component. Pea-cereal mixes are particularly suitable for the conditions of organic farming, and should be recommended to farmers, as they ensure a relatively good harvest and high protein yield on soil without nitrogen fertilizers. In conclusion, the study showed that, of the three combinations, pea-oat mixed intercrops gave the highest yield of grain and protein yields.     

等高植物篱/大豆间作根系相互作用对生长和氮素吸收利用的影响

通过15N标记土壤的箱栽试验,探讨了地下部分隔作用对植物篱/大豆间作生长和氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明,香根草/大豆间作系统中大豆吸N量,无隔和网隔处理比板隔处理分别增加20.1%和0.6%,香根草吸N量分别高出7.4%和24.2%;而紫穗槐/大豆间作系统中大豆吸N量,无隔和网隔处理比板隔处理分别降低28.3%和15.9%,紫穗槐吸N量依次降低14.3%和24.3%。香根草/大豆间作系统中,大豆植株15N丰度网隔处理低于无隔处理,而香根草15N丰度则表现为根系无隔时较高;紫穗槐/大豆间作系统中紫穗槐和大豆的15N丰度都表现为根系无隔时较低。在培栽条件下,间作抑制了大豆生长,影响到大豆N素的吸收利用;与大豆根系间相互作用抑制了紫穗槐生长,但一定程度上改善了香根草生长,推测根系分布在养分吸收利用中占重要地位。     

Impact of sulfur applications on the agronomic performance of rapeseed–clover mixtures

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a crop requiring high levels of nitrogen (N) fertilizer for growth and to optimize yield and seed quality. To limit the environmental pollution associated with intensive N fertilizer use, rapeseed–clover (Trititcum incarnatum L.) mixtures were grown in lysimeters under low N conditions (100 kg N ha⁻¹). Considering the high sulfur (S) requirements of both rapeseed and clover, two inputs of S fertilizer (30 and 60 kg S ha⁻¹) were applied. The effects S input on the agronomic performance of rapeseed in mixture and monocrops considered as reference, the N₂‐fixing capacity of clover, and the leaching of nitrate and sulfate were monitored. This study showed that the N₂‐fixing capacity (%Ndfa) of clover was improved (1.3‐fold) when it was grown in mixture with rapeseed at S60. However, irrespective of the type of cropping (monocrops or mixtures) and S application level (30 or 60 kg S ha⁻¹), the biomasses and total N and S contents of both plants were not significantly different, nor was the rapeseed seed quality. Moreover, the yield of rapeseed grown in mixture at S60 was significantly lower than the yield of rapeseed grown as a monocrop (331.5 ± 9.8 versus 380.8 ± 3.5 g DW m⁻², respectively). The results demonstrate that, in our field conditions, rapeseed mixed with clover required only 30 kg S ha⁻¹ to maintain yield and seed quality, despite the high S needs of both plants. More surprisingly, compared to the rapeseed monocrop, the rapeseed–clover mixture led to an increase in N (‐N) and S (‐S) leaching during the early winter period of cultivation.     

Projected benefit-cost analysis of agri-silvicultural system: vegetable crops intercropping with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix alba</Emphasis> (Willow)

An experiment upon an agri-silvicultural system involving Willow (Salix alba) tree, Kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and Knol khol (Brassica oleracea var. caularapa) was laid in randomized block designed at farmers’ willow field at Shalimar near Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar India during 2005 and 2006. The main plot was divided into sub-spots with 8 m × 2 m in size each in which four two-year-old willow (Salix alba) trees were at a spacing of 2 m × 2 m in a sub-spot. The intercrops were maintained at recommended spacing and supplied with recommended doses of fertilizers. The benefit-cost ratio in willow plantation intercropped with vegetable crops of Kale and Knol Khol was analyzed and compared with the benefit-cost ratio of sole willow tree forestry. The results showed that every rupee invested in plantation of agri-silvicultural system generates benefit-cost ratio of 2.78 and 2.79 in case of Willow intercropping with Kale and Willow with Knol khol, respectively, while as for sole crop of willows benefit-cost ratio was calculated to be 2.66. These results provided circumstantial evidence in favour of adopting agroforestry involving willow instead of Sole tree forestry.     

Evaluating the merits of climate smart technologies under smallholder agriculture in Malawi

The merits of three climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies implemented by farmers were assessed in Machinga district of Malawi with respect to their soil quality and maize yield effects. Data were collected from farms implementing the three CSA technologies, namely conservation agriculture (CA), maize–pigeonpea (Maize-PP) intercrops and a local organic and inorganic soil amendment known as Mbeya fertilization (Mbeya-fert), from 2018 to 2019. With respect to resilience and adaptation, particulate organic matter, soil organic carbon (SOC), N, P, K, Ca and Mg all significantly improved while bulk densities were lowered under the three CSA systems. Higher annual biomass inputs and improved water infiltration from the Maize-PP intercrops were observed. With respect to productivity, CA and Mbeya-fert improved maize yields by 51 and 19%, respectively, compared to conventional farmer practices. With regard to climate change mitigation, increases in measured SOC in the top 20 cm depth compared to the conventional farmer practices amounted to 6.5, 12 and 10.5 t C ha⁻¹ for CA, Mbeya-fert, and Maize-PP intercrops, respectively, over a period of 2–6 years. This suggests higher potential for carbon sequestration from CSA technologies. Furthermore, use of drought tolerant varieties, timely weeding and optimum plant populations, increased productivity. Improved gross margins from CSA practices were also apparent. Thus, employing these CSA technologies could enable farmers to be more resilient, productive and adapt better to climate change shocks leading to improved food security and livelihoods.     

Sericulture-based agroforestry systems for hilly areas of north-east India

Sericulture-based agroforestry systems (AFS) have great potential for higher returns in the north-eastern region with sloping and valley-land conditions. A field investigation was initiated in November, 1992 at Research Farm, Barapani (980 m above msl, 26°N and 92°E and average rainfall 2428 mm/year) on acid Alfisol. Seven mulberry (Morus alba L.) varieties, seven silkworm breeds and rearing performance of a bivoltine breed, NB-18 were evaluated in different trials. Three sericulture-based AFS viz. sericulture with 1. fruit trees and fodder grasses, 2. field (upland) crops, and 3. lowland rice were developed at the Research Farm. Mulberry varieties TR-4, S-1635 and TR-10, and NB-18 — a bivoltine silkworm breed were found better suited for this region. Sericulture with field crops (French bean-groundnut-mustard/vegetables) for valley land, with fruit plants (guava, pineapple) and grasses for mid-hill situations, and with rice for low lands were found suitable at the Farm and for possible adoption in the north-eastern hill region of India.     

线辣椒/玉米套作对产量和品质的影响

以套作线辣椒/玉米、单作线辣椒和单作玉米为研究对象,运用地下部种间根系分隔技术,研究了套作和单作种植模式下线辣椒、玉米产量和品质的差异。结果表明,线辣椒/玉米套作具有显著的产量优势,土地当量比为1.18~1.24。套作玉米与单作玉米相比呈现明显的套作品质优势,套作玉米的蛋白质含量、脂肪含量、百粒重等品质指标明显高于单作玉米。套作线辣椒与单作线辣椒相比呈现明显的套作品质劣势,套作线辣椒果实的辣椒素含量、可溶性糖含量、糖酸比、抗坏血酸含量等品质指标均低于单作线辣椒,有机酸含量和干物质含量高于单作线辣椒。线辣椒果实的品质指标在果实发育过程中的变化趋势不同,套作线辣椒果实品质指标的降低幅度在可接受范围内。考虑到产量优势和经济效益,线辣椒/玉米套作是一个很有价值的种植模式。     

Assessment of Changes in Soil Infiltration,Water-Holding Capacity,Bulk Density and Fertility Parameters under Different Tree- and Crop-Based Systems in Semiarid Alfisols

Field experiments were conducted to assess changes in soil infiltration, water-holding capacity (WHC), bulk density and soil fertility with 15 custard apple (CA)-based systems of T1:CA+Fingermillet; T2:CA+Fodder Maize; T3:CA+Fieldbean; T4:CA+Niger; T5:CA+Chilli; T6:CA+Cowpea; T7:CA+Foxtailmillet; T8:Fingermillet; T9:Fodder Maize; T10:Fieldbean; T11:Niger; T12:Chilli; T13:Cowpea; T14:Foxtailmillet and T15:CA in 2012 and 2013 under semiarid Alfisols at Bangalore. T2 gave the maximum CA equivalent yield (1333 kgha^?1), rainwater-use efficiency (4.90 kgha^?1mm^?1), net returns of Rs. 52690 ha^?1 and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.92. T6 gave the maximum WHC of 41.0%; an infiltration rate of 33.1 cmhr^?1; a cumulative infiltration of 66.2 cm; and a minimum bulk density of 1.40 gcc^?1. T6 maintained maximum soil nitrogen (N) of 259 kgha^?1; phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) of 67.9 kgha^?1; and potassium oxide (K₂O) of 141.5 kgha ^?1; while T9 gave uptake N of 102.7 kgha^?1; P₂O₅ of 24.6 kgha^?1; and K₂O of 103.7 kgha^?1. T6 was efficient for improving the soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters based on the study.