Land Equivalent Ratio of Cowpea–Sorghum Relay Intercrop as Affected by Different Cattle Manure Application Rates Under Smallholder Farming System

Poor soil fertility is a major challenge to crop production in the communal farming areas of Zimbabwe. Intercropping legumes and cereals is a common soil fertility management technology among the farmers. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate cowpea–sorghum relay intercropping advantages in response to different cattle manure application rates. A 3 × 4 factorial experiment laid in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates was conducted. The treatments were three cropping systems (sorghum sole, cowpea sole, and cowpea–sorghum intercrop) and four cattle manure application rates (0, 50, 75, and 100%). Crop growth rate (CGR), grain yield, harvest index (HI), relative competitive ability of each crop, and land equivalent ratio (LER) were measured. Analysis of variance and non-linear regression analyses were done to determine the yield benefits of cowpea–sorghum intercrop and estimate the relative competitive ability, respectively. Application of >75% cattle manure in a cowpea–sorghum intercrop enhanced the sorghum grain yield (75%) and HI (125%) of unmanured cowpea–sorghum plots. Cowpeas had higher CGR (159.6, 166.7 and 149.5 g m−2 day−1 at 7, 21, and 35 days after planting, respectively) at >75% cattle manure application rates on both intercrop and sole cropping than sorghum but with lower grain yield (1.4 t ha−1). Intraspecific competitive stress in sorghum was reduced at a high (>75%) quantity of manure applied. The effects of the intraspecific competition in cowpea were stronger (0.693) on grain yield than biomass at >75% manure application rates. The LER was >1 in all the treatments and was highest (2.73) under the cowpea–sorghum relay intercrop without cattle manure. Cattle manure application at 75% in a cowpea–sorghum intercrop enhanced the grain yield in sorghum and vegetative growth in cowpeas. It is therefore recommended to use the >75% cattle manure application rate in the intercrop if one wants higher grain in sorghum and high biomass in cowpeas possibly for fodder. Further studies are recommended to quantify the rate of increase in available N under the cowpea–sorghum relay intercrop with >75% cattle manure application rates.

Yield Potential and Monetary Advantage Index of Maize Intercropped with Grain Legumes in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Traditional mixtures of food crop species involve intercrop of plants with dissimilar size and growth cycle on the field. However, the Relative Yield Potential (RYP) and Land Equivalent Ratios (LER) of these mixtures are given less prejudice especially in monetary terms by ancient farmers. This necessitate an experiment conducted during the 2016 and 2018 rainy seasons. The treatments consisted of Maize (TZESR – Open Pollinated), Cowpea (Sampea - 7), Peanut (Samnut - 24) and Soybean (TGX 713 – 09D) as sole crops sown at seed rates of 25 and 50 kgha-1 for maize and legumes respectively. The grain legumes were intercropped with maize in the ratio of 4:1, 2:1 or 1:1 as additional rows in between the normal rows of maize planted at a spacing of 75 x 25cm. Results revealed that intercropping of maize with either cowpea, peanut or soybean in 2:1 ratio was most productive in terms of maize equivalent yield and declined thereafter, with increase in the legume proportion, though maintained its superiority over sole planting of maize. Maize intercropped with soybean in the ratios 4:1 gave the highest mean biological maize equivalent compared to its sole planting at different combinations of legumes. Maize + Peanut gave the highest mean Land Equivalent Ratio (1.81) followed by maize + Cowpea (1.74) and maize + soybean (1.59) all sown in the ratio of 2:1. Intercropping of legumes with maize appeared to be more aggressive than sole planting of maize or legumes. Maize + Peanut (2:1) gave the highest mean Monetary Advantage Index (MAI) of 7789.0, Mean Yield Index (MYI) of 79.0. However, regardless of the ratio in which Maize + peanut was combined, result of 47% MAI showed a greater biological relationship, effective competition, hence recommended. Highest cost/benefit ratio (5.09 and 4.45) was obtained with maize + soybean (4:1) during 2016 and 2018, respectively.

Comparative Study on Profitability of Sorghum-Legumes Intercropping Systems in Ethiopia

The imbalance between the crop production and population growth is currently the major issue in Ethiopia. To feed the growing population, increasing the production of food through growing more crop types in the same field as an intercropping is the right strategy. The study was aimed at evaluating the profitability of sorghum-legume intercropping on yield of sorghum. Intercropping sorghum with legumes crops increases the land productivity as its Land Equivalent Ratio is greater than one. In these cases, the land equivalent ratio is greater than one indicating the benefits of intercropping. In general, legume crops contributed to the yield of sorghum either intercropped with legume or grown up using residual contribution of legumes after a year. Therefore, for maximum sorghum production, farmers should plant either as intercrop or after residual effect of legumes crops. In addition to agronomic parameters used to compare the advantages of any cropping system in small scale farming conditions, total gross monetary value is also used to evaluate economic advantages of intercropping system.

Biological and economic efficacy of cowpea-radish association fertilized with organic manure in diverse planting arrangements

Green manuring and the spatial arrangement of planting intercropped crops are manageable factors to increase the bioeconomic effectiveness of intercropped systems. Therefore, the object of this study was to work out the bio-economic efficacy in cowpea-radish association under diverse Calotropis procera biomass amounts and planting arrangements in two cultivation seasons through biological and economic indices. The research was conducted in a design of randomized complete blocks with four repetitions. The treatments were made of combination of four C. procera biomass amounts placed into the soil (20, 35, 50 and 65 t ha-1) with three cowpea-radish planting arrangements (2:2, 3:3 and 4:4). The biological indices, land equivalent ratio (LER), area-time equivalency ratio (ATER), actual yield loss (AYL), and system productivity index (SPI) and the economic indicators gross revenue (GR), net revenue (NR), rate of return (RR) and profit margin (PM) were evaluated to express the bio-economic efficacy of the cowpea-radish association. The greatest biological efficiencies of the cowpea-radish association were attained with LER and ATER of 1.75 and 1.25; AYL and SPI of 1.48 and 13.15 t ha-1, respectively, in the amount of 62 t ha-1 of C. procera biomass in the planting arrangements 2: 2 and 3: 3. The largest net economic revenue (NR) of 16,382.85 R$ ha-1 was attained in the amount of 52 t ha-1 of C. procera in the planting arrangement 3: 3.

Intercropping of Maize (Zea mays) and Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) vs. Monoculture: Plant Growth, Root Development, and Yield

In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, we conducted an experimental study to evaluate the root morphology and crop yield for the intercropping of maize and cotton. Due to the shading effect of maize and the reduced root surface area of cotton root system, intercropped cotton yield was smaller (14.7%) than monoculture cotton yield. By contrast, intercropped maize with cotton yield was higher than monoculture maize yield. Compared with typical production of each crop separately, intercropping of maize and cotton showed several benefits: increased the land utilization rate, with a land equivalent ratio (LER) greater than 1; and increased the root length, root surface area, and light interception in maize, which contributed to an increase in maize yield.

Weeds Spectrum, Productivity and Land-Use Efficiency in Maize-Gram Intercropping Systems under Semi-Arid Environment

To ensure food security on sustainable basis, reducing weeds interference and boosting land use efficiency are critical. A field study was conducted at research farm of University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan, to sort out the most productive maize-gram intercropping system under semi-arid environment. Treatments included sole maize in single row (60 cm apart) (T1) and double rows (90 cm apart) (T2) strips, sole black (T3) and green gram (T4) crops, six single rows (60 cm apart) of maize with twelve double rows (20 cm) of black (T5) and green gram (T6), three double rows (90 cm apart) of maize with three sets of quadratic rows (20 cm apart) of black (T7) and green gram (T8). The experiment was executed in regular arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that T1 produced the highest grain yield (6.97 t ha−1) of maize and significantly lower weeds infestation compared to wider row spacing (T2). Among intercropping systems, T8 significantly decreased weeds density (16.33 plants m−2) and their fresh (20.93 g m−2) and dry weights (5.63 g m−2), while the maximum land use efficiency as indicated by unmatched land equivalent ratio and intercropping advantage were recorded by T7 and T8. Interestingly, green gram in intercropping recorded over 58% higher productivity than black gram. We conclude that maize-green gram intercropping hold potential to impart sustainability to maize production by reducing weeds infestation (431% lower than sole maize) and could be a viable option for smallholder farmers in semi-arid environment.

Effects of interspecific competition on crop yield and nitrogen utilisation in maize-soybean intercropping system

Intercropping system plays a crucial role in improving crop yield, nitrogen utilisation efficiency (NUE) and economic benefit. The difference in crop yield and interspecific relationship under different bandwidth and row ratio allocation patterns are still unclear. A field experiment was carried out to explore change regularities between crop yield and interspecific relationships under maize soybean intercropping with different bandwidths and row ratios. The results showed that the yield of intercropped crops was lower than that of the sole crop. The nitrogen accumulation (NA), NUE and nitrogen competition ratio was the highest under the intercropping mode with a bandwidth of 2.0 m, which indicated that this mode was more conducive to the N uptake and utilisation in crops. In all intercropping systems, nitrogen equivalent ratio (NER) and land equivalent ratio (LER) were all greater than one, indicating that intercropping systems were conducive to improving land utilisation efficiency and NUE. Under the same bandwidth pattern, expanding the maize soybean row ratio from 2 : 4 to 3 : 4 was beneficial to the improvement of LER, NER, NUE, crop group yield. In conclusion, it was preferable in the NA, NUE, crop group yield under the system of bandwidth 2.0 m and row ratio 2 : 2, which could be a reference for maize soybean intercropping system.

Productivity of Phosphorus Fertilization in Cowpea-Maize Strip Intercropping under Rainfed Conditions

Crop yields are declined due to low soil fertility, insufficient soil water availability and poorly managed cropping systems in Limpopo province of South Africa. Phosphorus (P) is a major essential nutrient element required by crops for enhanced growth and development. Interactions between different rates of P fertilization and strip intercropping system have not been studied in detail under rainfed conditions in semi-arid region of Limpopo province. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the performance of four cowpea varieties at four levels (0, 15, 30, 45 kg P ha-1) of P fertilization in a cowpea-maize intercropping system in a split-split plot design during two seasons. Significant interactions were obtained between variety and phosphorus application as well as variety and cropping system for 90% physiological maturity, root mass and grain yield in both seasons. P levels significantly influenced and enhanced grain yield, land equivalent ratio, profit and benefit cost ratio achieved. PAN311 and TVu13464 matured earlier across P levels and they were selected promising cowpea varieties based on their early maturity and high yield. Land equivalent ratio values were greater than 1.0, which indicated performance and advantage of an intercropping system over monocropping system in land utilisation. The optimum P level for cowpea-maize strip intercropping was at 30 kg P ha-1 based on yield and financial return. The results showed that P application enhanced the productivity of the cowpea varieties in cowpea-maize strip intercropping in the semi-arid environment of Limpopo province. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

Productivity and Profitability Assessment of Lemon Based Agroforestry Systems in Bangladesh

A field experiment was conducted from May 2017 to February 2018 at the research farm of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University to evaluate the performance and profitability of three seasonal (Broccoli, Cabbage and Okra) and two annual crops (ginger and turmeric) in lemon-based agroforestry systems. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated thrice. For seasonal crops the treatments were sole field (T0), 50 cm distance from tree base (DTB) with ginger (T1), 50 cm DTB with turmeric (T2), 100 cm DTB with ginger (T3) and 100 cm DTB with turmeric (T4). For annual crops (ginger and turmeric) the treatments were sole field (T0) and four distance regimes (50, 100, 150 and 200 cm) from the lemon tree base in agroforestry systems. The results of the study revealed that the yield of seasonal crops decreased and the yield of annual crops and perennial trees increased in agroforestry than respective sole cropping systems. The yield performance of crops component was significantly decreased with the decreasing distance towards tree base in agroforestry systems. The economic analysis showed that the net return, benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and land equivalent ratio (LER) was higher in the lemon-based agroforestry system than sole cropping. Therefore, the cultivation of cabbage, broccoli, okra, ginger and turmeric under lemon-based agroforestry systems are economically profitable.