Aboveground and belowground competition between intercropped cabbage and young Eucalyptus torelliana |
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Authors: | T M Nissen D J Midmore M L Cabrera |
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Institution: | (1) Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA E-mail;(2) School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Qld, 4702, Australia |
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Abstract: | An expanding market for planted timber in the Philippines is providing a strong incentive for upland farmers to incorporate
trees into their farming systems. Farmers often intercrop young timber species with well-fertilized annuals in expectation
that inter- species competition for nutrients and light will be minimal while the trees are small, and that the trees will
benefit from intensive nutrient and weed management of the intercrop. The relative level of aboveground and belowground competition
in a vegetable/timber intercropping system was investigated in the uplands of Mindanao, the Philippines. Eight 5-m2 microplots were established containing one nine-month-old Eucalyptus torelliana and four rows of cabbage (two on each of
the north and south sides of the tree, 0.5 and 1.0 m from the stem base). The tree canopy shaded north rows. Monocrop cabbage
microplots (2 m2) were also installed. Four tree/cabbage microplots and all cabbage-only plots were fertilized with 15 5N-labeled ammonium sulfate (100 kg N ha−1); remaining microplots received unlabeled fertilizer. Cabbage yields were reduced by 16% in the north rows when compared
to the south rows, and by 15% in rows closer to the tree when compared to rows further from the trees. Belowground competition
in the first cabbage row, possibly for moisture, is supported by the high proportion of tree roots found in the top 30 cm
of soil. Competition did not appear to be for N or other nutrients. Foliar analyses revealed no row differences in mineral
concentrations in cabbage, uptake of applied N, or percent of N derived from fertilizer. The modest amount of 15N found in
aboveground tree parts (4.5% of N applied to four cabbage rows) improved overall N-use efficiency in the intercropped plots.
An improved understanding of the tradeoffs between improved nutrient efficiency and depressed intercrop growth, as well as
management options to reduce competition, will help farmers design systems to improve efficiency without increasing competition.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | farm forestry nitrogen efficiency nitrogen-15 nitrogen uptake vegetables |
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