Agronomic assessment of phosphorus efficacy for potato (Solanum tuberosum L) under legume intercrops |
| |
| Authors: | Harun I Gitari Nyawade Shadrack Solomon Kamau Nancy N Karanja Charles K K Gachene Elmar Schulte-Geldermann |
| |
| Institution: | 1. School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development, Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya;2. College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;3. CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB), International Potato Center, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office, ILRI Campus, Nairobi, Kenya;4. hgitari@gmail.com;6. College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Department of Land Resource Management and Agricultural Technology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;7. School of life Sciences, University of Applied Science Bingen (TH Bingen), Bingen, Germany |
| |
| Abstract: | AbstractPhosphorus (P) is an essential element and its efficient use is of global importance. This study evaluated the effect of growing potato under legume intercrops on P uptake and use efficiency indices: P harvest index (PHI), P uptake efficiency (PuPE), P partial factor productivity (PPFP) and P partial balance (PPB). The experiment was carried out for four consecutive seasons with treatments comprising potato cultivated under legume intercrops: none (T1), dolichos (Lablab purpureus L) (T2), peas (Pisum sativum L) (T3) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) (T4). Across the seasons, the mean haulm P uptake for T2 (6.7?kg P ha?1), T4 (5.5) and T3 (4.5) were 6%, 23% and 36% lower than that observed in T1 (7.1?kg P ha?1), respectively. On the other hand, tuber P uptake was highest in T1 (21.8?kg P ha?1) and T2 (21.3?kg P ha?1) and were significantly higher than 13.2?kg P ha?1 in T3 and 15.1?kg P ha?1 in T4. This had a profound effect on PuPE, which was equally highest in T1 (0.26?kg total P uptake kg?1 P supply) and T2 (0.25) and lowest in T3 (0.16) and T4 (0.18). Similarly, PPFP, PHI and PPB followed a similar trend, with highest values in T1 (57?kg tuber dry matter yield kg?1 P supply, 76.4?kg tuber P uptake kg?1 total plant’s P uptake and 0.20?kg tuber P uptake kg?1 P supply, respectively). Among the tested legume intercrops, dolichos competed least for P with the main crop (potato) hence it can be integrated into potato-based cropping systems without compromising potato tuber yield. |
| |
| Keywords: | intercropping phosphorus harvest index phosphorus partial factor productivity phosphorus partial balance phosphorus uptake phosphorus uptake efficiency |
|
|
