scholarly journals Benefits of Legume Species in an Agroforestry Production System of Yellow Pitahaya in the Ecuadorian Amazon

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9261
Author(s):  
Yadira Vargas-Tierras ◽  
Alejandra Díaz ◽  
Carlos Caicedo ◽  
Julio Macas ◽  
Alfonso Suárez-Tapia ◽  
...  

Agroforestry systems have become an alternative that promotes the conservation of natural resources and the sustainable production of fruit crops in the Ecuadorian Amazon. However, it is required to demonstrate the benefit of the companion species that make up these production systems. The objective of this research was to determine how the legume species within an agroforestry system influence the yield of yellow dragon fruit (pitahaya), carbon sequestration and nutritional contribution. The experiment was carried out in Palora (province of Morona Santiago) and organized in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were two agroforestry arrangements and the monoculture as a control treatment. Erythrina poeppigiana, Gliricidia sepium and Flemingia macrophylla were used in the agroforestry arrangements for the contribution of biomass. Results showed that during the five years of study, pitahaya yield was influenced by the quality of the leaf litter (biomass) incorporated in to the fruit crop. Biomass from E. poeppigiana and F. macrophylla as companion crops contributed a greater amount of Ca and Mg, increased C sequestration and crop yield. The results suggest that the use of legume species in agroforestry systems positively affects pitahaya productivity, enabling sustainable agriculture in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-87
Author(s):  
SS Keya ◽  
MG Miah ◽  
MA Rahman ◽  
MT Islam

Excess use of agrochemicals for intensive cultivation affects crop quality and destroys agro-ecosystems, and eventually creates health hazards. The study aims to investigate the effect of Gliricidia sepium (GS) tree leaf as suitable green manures for supplementing nutrient supply along with nitrogen (N) fertilizer to produce quality tomato and soil fertility improvement. A field experiment was conducted at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh, from November 2016 to March 2017. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (two factors) with three replications. There were nine treatment combinations with three levels of GS tree leaves (5, 10 and 15 t ha−1) and three doses of N (0, 50 and 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizer). The highest tomato yield was recorded in GS15×N100 treatment combination, which was 41.68% higher compared to the control treatment. Decreasing C: N ratio in increasing dose of GS and N treated plot indicated the quality of tree leaves that ensures faster decomposition and high nutrient release pattern of this species. Increasing rate of soil pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in different treatments as compared to initial soil showed soil fertility improvement. Overall, the results indicated that quality tomato could be grown successfully by the application of G. sepium tree leaves along with an appropriate amount of N fertilizer. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(1) : 77-87


2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 9283-9291
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Gómez-Yarce ◽  
Edna Rocío Mompotes-Largo ◽  
Aníbal López-Castro ◽  
Juan David Hernández-Arredondo ◽  
Oscar De Jesús Córdoba-Gaona

The cultivation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) under agroforestry systems, generates beneficial environmental conditions for cocoa crop physiology. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of shade trees (Spanish elm trees - Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pavon) Oken) planted along with cocoa (clone CCN51) under an agroforestry system on cocoa’s gas exchange parameters regarding the reduction of the light intensity over the cocoa-leaf canopy. The experiment was developed in the Centro de Investigación el Nus - Agrosavia, located in the municipality of San Roque, Antioquia. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design for the cocoa planting distances from the first row of Spanish elm trees interfacing with the cocoa plantation (4 m, 7 m, 10 m, 13 m). The statistical analysis was performed by estimating the area under the curve (AUC) of each variable, using the trapezoid equation of the statistical environment SAS® 9.4, an analysis of variances was performed to determine if there were statistical differences between treatments, and Tukey’s test at 5% probability was used to estimated statistical differences between means. There were significant differences in the treatments regarding the net photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rate (E). The highest values of gas exchange parameters were found in the plants located 13 m from elm trees, while the lowest values were presented at 4 m. Plants at 7 m and 10 m always showed intermediate values for all gas exchange parameters. In the same sense, plants at 13 m had a higher radiation use efficiency (RUE) compared to plants at 4 m. The arboreal component modified the environmental conditions on cocoa trees regarding its distribution, generating a differential response to the physiological behavior of cocoa plants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.M. AGUIAR ◽  
J.B. SANTOS ◽  
E.A. FERREIRA ◽  
C.M. CABRAL ◽  
I.M. PEREIRA ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Herbicides are inputs with a high volume of use in agricultural production systems for weed management; however, the environmental contamination they cause is a reality. The objective of this research was to evaluate the tolerance of tree species used for the phytoremediation of herbicides in the soil, to atrazine, clomazone and 2,4-D, through the evaluation of photosynthetic indices. Thus, a randomized block design experiment was conducted with four replications, in a 4 x 5 factorial arrangement, where the first factor represented the herbicides atrazine, clomazone and 2,4-D and the control treatment without herbicide (water). The second factor consisted in the use of pre-selected tree species for the phytoremediation of soils with residues of the products [Eremanthus crotonoides DC. (candeia), - Richeria grandis Vahl (richeria), Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl) Marchand, (breu-branco) Kielmeyera latrophyton Saddi, Kew Bull, (pau-santo) Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess (guanandi)]. The herbicides were applied through dishes placed under the culture containers of the plants, when they presented eight months of development. After 15 days from the herbicide application, the visual intoxication, stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), CO2 concentration in the substomatal chamber (Ci), and water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated. The herbicides affected differently the physiological characteristics of the tree species; atrazine was the most harmful product. Individuals under the effect of 2,4-D and clomazone presented lower variation for their physiological characteristics, compared to the respective control treatments. Breu-branco, despite showing low visual intoxication provided by the herbicides, was the most affected species by the products. On the other hand, candeia was the most tolerant species to the action of the herbicides.


2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-289
Author(s):  
LEONARDO SANTOS COLLIER ◽  
EVERTON MARTINS ARRUDA ◽  
LUIZ FERNANDES CARDOSO CAMPOS ◽  
JOSÉ NILTON VIEIRA NUNES

ABSTRACT Leguminous species can improve nutrient cycling and chemical quality of Oxisols, resulting in higher productivity of intercropped crops. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the decomposition rate and nutrient accumulation in legume stubble, as well as its contribution to soil chemical attributes, the growth of baru trees (Dipteryx alata Vogel), and yield of intercropped maize in an agroforestry system. The experiment was developed during the crop years of 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, in Goiás State, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block with five replicates. Leguminous species consisted of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Stylosanthes (Stylosanthes macrocephala - 20% and Stylosanthes capitata - 80%), and spontaneous vegetation (control treatment). The decomposition rates of legume and spontaneous vegetation residues remained unchanged in the agroforestry system. Sunn hemp, jack bean, and Stylosanthes plants are advantageous options for total accumulation of nutrients. However, sunn hemp grown as straw cover for next crop seasons increases the available phosphorus levels in the soil and productivity of maize cobs. With this coverage, maize productivity values were up to 24% higher than were those with maize growing on spontaneous vegetation, besides having no effect on the growth of baru trees.


2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. SCHNEIDER ◽  
C. ANDRES ◽  
G. TRUJILLO ◽  
F. ALCON ◽  
P. AMURRIO ◽  
...  

SUMMARYCocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is produced in systems of varying complexity ranging from monoculture with temporary shade to highly diverse agroforests. Producers have to weigh high cocoa yields in the short to medium term in monocultures against higher total system yields in the short term and sustainable production systems in the long term in conjunction with ecosystem services in agroforestry systems (AFs). More long-term data on the comparative agronomic, economic and ecological performance of differently managed cocoa production systems is required to make sound recommendations to farmers. This paper describes the only long-term field trial worldwide comparing different cocoa production systems under conventional and organic management. The factors (i) crop diversity (monoculture vs. agroforestry), (ii) management practice (conventional vs. organic) and (iii) cultivar are being tested in a full-factorial, randomized complete block design with four replications. First, results showed significantly faster development of trunk circumferences in monocultures (+21%) compared to AFs. Cocoa yields were 47% lower in the organic compared to the conventional monoculture. In the AFs, however, the organic–conventional yield gap was less pronounced (−16%) and statistically insignificant. The cumulative yields of all products harvested were significantly higher in the AFs (+161%) compared to the monocultures. The productivity of cocoa by-crops in AFs may contribute to local food security and risk distribution in smallholder contexts.


Author(s):  
J Hossain ◽  
T Ahmed ◽  
MZ Hasnat ◽  
D Karim

An experiment was conducted with four tomato varieties under a six year old orchard was accomplished at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) research farm during October 2011 to April 2012. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Four tomato varieties (BARI Tomato 2, BARI Tomato 8, BARI Tomato 14 and BARI Tomato 15) were grown under guava, mango, olive and control. Results showed that light availability in control plot (999.75 ? mol m-2s-1) was remarkably higher over fruit tree based agroforestry systems and it was 58.8, 43.9 and 31.5% of the control for guava, mango and olive based systems, respectively. The shortest tomato plant was observed in olive based system (54.91 cm), while the tallest plant was observed in mango based system (60.09 cm). The highest SPAD value and number of primary branches per plant was recorded in control plot. Fruit length, fruit girth was found lowest in olive based system. The highest yield (34.06 t ha-1) was recorded in control plot while the lowest yield (10.26 t ha-1) was recorded in olive based system. The economic performance of fruit tree based tomato production system showed that both the net return and BCR of mango and guava based system was higher over control and olive based system. The contents of organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium and sulfur of before experimentation soil were slightly higher in fruit tree based agroforestry systems than the control. After experimentation, nutrient elements in soil were found increased slightly than initial soils. Fruit tree based agroforestry systems could be ranked based on the economic performance as mango> guava> control> olive based system with BARI Tomato 15, BARI Tomato 2, BARI Tomato 14 and BARI Tomato 8, respectively. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v4i2.22652 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 4 (2): 61-69, December, 2014


2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne E. Allaire ◽  
Benjamin Baril ◽  
Anne Vanasse ◽  
Sébastien F. Lange ◽  
John MacKay ◽  
...  

Allaire, S. E., Baril, B., Vanasse, A., Lange, S. F., MacKay, J. and Smith, D. L. 2015. Carbon dynamics in a biochar-amended loamy soil under switchgrass. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 1–13. The environmental impacts of switchgrass production for bioenergy could be reduced through the use of biofertilizers rather than mineral fertilizers and through soil amendment with biochar. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the impact of biochar and biofertilizer on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) yield and parameters related to carbon dynamics, (2) to correlate carbon parameters with soil physico-chemical properties over the first two growing seasons, and (3) to develop a C budget. A complete randomized block design was installed in a sandy loam with split plot treatment design, the main plots receiving 0 or 10 t ha−1of biochar and the sub − plots receiving no fertilization, mineral N fertilization, or biofertilizers. Biofertilizers had no significant impact on plant and soil. Biochar increased yield relative to the control treatment by about 10% during the first year and root biomass by up to 50% after 2 yr (P>0.1). Mineral N fertilization also increased yield resulting in higher plant C sequestration after 2 yr. Biochar increased CO2soil concentration (CO2-soil) by up to 50% but its impact on CO2emission flux (CO2-flux) changed over time. The impact of mineral fertilization on CO2-fluxalso varied with time. Soil CO2dynamics was mostly influenced by temperature, N and water content. Biochar and fertilization treatments showed interactions on some plant and soil parameters. The highest C sequestration budget was obtained with a combination of biochar and mineral N fertilization. The equivalent of about one-third of the increase in soil C content associated with biochar treatments was respired away by soil microorganisms. Nearly one-fourth of C sequestered by plants remained in or at the soil surface (root and crop residues).


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
ULF SCHNEIDEWIND ◽  
WIEBKE NIETHER ◽  
LAURA ARMENGOT ◽  
MONIKA SCHNEIDER ◽  
DANIELA SAUER ◽  
...  

SUMMARYAgroforestry systems (AFS) can serve to decrease ecosystem carbon (C) losses caused by deforestation and inadequate soil management. Because of their shade tolerance, cacao plants are suitable to be grown in AFS, since they can be combined with other kinds of trees and shrubs. The potential for C sequestration in cacao farming systems depends on various factors, such as management practices, stand structure and plantation age. We compared conventionally and organically managed cacao monoculture systems (MCS) and AFS in Sara Ana (Bolivia) with respect to C stocks in plant biomass and to amounts of litterfall and pruning residues. The total aboveground C stocks of the AFS (26 Mg C ha−1) considerably exceeded those of the MCS (~7 Mg C ha−1), although the biomass of cacao trees was greater in the MCS compared to the AFS. Due to higher tree density, annual litterfall in the AFS (2.2 Mg C ha−1 year−1) substantially exceeded that in the MCS (1.2 Mg C ha−1 year−1). The amounts of C in pruning residues (2.6 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in MCS to 4.3 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in AFS) was more than twice those in the litterfall. Annual nitrogen (N) inputs to the soil through pruning residues of cacao and N-fixing trees were up to 10 times higher than the N inputs through external fertiliser application. We conclude that appropriate management of cacao AFS, involving the pruning of leguminous trees, will lead to increases in biomass, litter quantity and quality as well as soil C and N stocks. Thus, we recommend stimulating the expansion of well-managed AFS to improve soil fertility and enhance C sequestration in soils.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-125
Author(s):  
AK Das ◽  
MA Rahman ◽  
SR Saha ◽  
NS Sarmin ◽  
MA Hoque ◽  
...  

Sustainable agricultural practices like agroforestry systems are being advocated to overcome various problems of farming. A young malta (Citrus sinensis) orchard (3 years old) was transformed into a fruit tree-based agroforestry system in which the performances of summer (okra and Indian spinach) and autumn (mungbean and kangkong) crops and year-round spices (ginger and turmeric) were evaluated following randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication each and eventually compared between agroforestry systems and respective sole cropping (control) from March 2018 to February 2019 at BSMRAU field. The experimental results revealed that the yields of the associated crops deprived when grown at the closest row position from the bed of malta tree and spices. Yields of okra, Indian spinach, mungbean, kangkong, turmeric and ginger were reduced by 7.57, 6.52, 14.86, 13.26, 9.70 and 16.23%, respectively under agroforestry system as compared to control. However, malta yield was increased by 5.35% in agroforestry system than control trees. The findings also indicated that the crops in agroforestry system was less hindered by the shade effect of malta trees due to less dense canopy of young malta trees. In comparison to sole cropping system, the higher benefit-cost ratio (BCR) (2.93) and land equivalent ratio (LER) (2.83) were obtained in the studied agroforestry system that explicated higher system productivity and land uses. Notable improvement of total nitrogen and organic matter were obtained in the soil under agroforestry system. Therefore, malta-based agroforestry system can be a promising alternative to provide higher economic benefits, boosting food and nutritional security, improving soil nutrient status and utilization of land. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2020) 24(1) : 113-125


Biotecnia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
Ricardo Augusto Luna Murillo ◽  
Juan José Reyes Pérez ◽  
Kleber Augusto Espinosa Cunuhay ◽  
Marcelo Vicente Luna Murillo ◽  
Fiamma Valeria Luna Quintana ◽  
...  

Entre los sistemas de producción orgánica bajo condiciones controladas, la producción de hortalizas con aplicación de enmiendas es una práctica que se ha extendido a escala mundial. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar los efectos de los abonos orgánicos sobre algunas variables de producción en plantas de tomate. Las evaluaciones se realizaron a los 65 días después del trasplante, utilizándose abonos orgánicos edáficos y foliares y un tratamiento control. Los tratamientos fueron aplicados una vez sembradas las plantas a los 30 días, siguiendo un diseño experimental de bloques al azar. Sobre la base de los resultados obtenidos se comprobó que a los 65 días después de la siembra, los abonos humus de lombriz más ácido húmico tienen una influencia positiva sobre el número y peso total de frutos; el tratamiento bocaschi más ácido húmico fue superior al diámetro del fruto. ABSTRACTAmong the organic production systems under controlled conditions, vegetable production with application of amendments is a practice that has spread worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizers on some production variables tomato plants. Evaluations were performed at 65 days after transplantation, using different soil and foliar organic fertilizers and a control treatment. The treatments were applied once planted plants at 30 days, following an experimental randomized block design. Based on the results obtained it was found that at 65 days after sowing, the humus fertilizer more acids plus humic have a positive influence on the total number of fruits, and the total weight of fruits, and treatment bocaschi plus humic acid was higher in the diameter of the fruit.


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