The economics of monocropping and intercropping by smallholders: The case of coconuts in Indonesia

This article contains a comparison of the profits of cultivating modern and traditional varieties of coconuts as a monocrop and as an intercrop, in ideal and in average growing conditions, with good and with average management. We carry out the analysis from a private (financial) and from a national (economic) perspective. The results show that intercropping generates more income than monocropping. In the conclusion we discuss why development organizations and Third World countries encourage monocropping.     

A feasibility test to estimate the duration of phytoextraction of heavy metals from polluted soils

The practical applicability of heavy metal (HM) phytoextraction depends heavily on its duration. Phytoextraction duration is the main cost factorfor phytoextraction, both referring to recurring economic costs during phytoextraction and to the cost of the soil having no economic value during phytoextraction. An experiment is described here, which is meant as a preliminary feasibility test before starting a phytoextraction scheme in practice, to obtain a more realistic estimate of the phytoextraction duration of a specific HM-polluted soil. In the experiment, HM-polluted soil is mixed at different ratios with unpolluted soil of comparable composition to mimic the gradual decrease of the HM content in the target HM-polluted soil during phytoextraction. After equilibrating the soil mixtures, one cropping cycle is carried out with the plant species of interest. At harvest, the adsorbed HM contents in the soil and the HM contents in the plant shoots are determined. The adsorbed HM contents in the soil are then related to the HM contents in the plant shoots by a log-log linear relationship that can then be used to estimate the phytoextraction duration of a specific HM-polluted soil. This article describes and evaluates the merits of such a feasibility experiment. Potential drawbacks regarding the accuracy of the described approach are discussed and a greenhouse-field extrapolation procedure is proposed.     

Speciation of heavy metals in soils based on charge separation

Summary An experimental approach to the speciation of heavy metals in soil extracts has been developed. The proposed methodology differentiates between differently charged metal species in water and ammonium acetate soil extracts. Furthermore a distinction has been made between labile and stable metal species by using a Chelex 100 chelating ion exchange resin.Significant differences in heavy metal speciation were found between an untreated soil and the same soil treated with 100 ppm Zn-ions and 100 ppm Zn-EDTA-ions.     

玉米/花生间作对土壤微生物和土壤养分状况的影响

通过大田试验,研究了玉米/花生间作对玉米和花生根区土壤微生物和土壤养分状况的影响.结果表明：与单作相比,间作能显著提高玉米和花生根区的土壤细菌数量;间作花生根区土壤真菌和放线菌数量与单作无显著差异;间作玉米根区土壤真菌和放线菌数量比单作明显提高;间作作物根区微生物群落功能多样性和代谢活性比单作有所改善.玉米/花生间作不同程度提高了整个间作系统根区的土壤碱解氮、速效磷、有机质含量及EC值,其中,间作玉米根区土壤养分的增加更为明显,说明玉米/花生间作可以较明显地改善两种作物根区的微生物和养分状况,土壤微生态环境的改善又会促进作物地上部的生长.     

玉米与番茄间作对土壤镉吸收的影响

为探究间作对作物吸收重金属镉(Cadmium,Cd)的影响,以Cd相对高积累番茄(中蔬4号)和相对低积累玉米(金珠蜜甜玉米)为试验材料,在Cd 3.70 mg/kg的污染水平下以单作、限制性间作、间作3种种植方式进行了盆栽试验,研究间作后作物各部位Cd积累差异及其形成原因。结果表明,番茄和玉米间作和限制性间作所产番茄根、茎、叶中Cd含量均有所提高(叶中Cd含量从13.52mg/kg分别升高至24.94mg/kg和27.30mg/kg);与未种植作物的对照组相比,非单作条件下番茄根围土壤的pH有所下降,酸性磷酸酶活性上升,而脲酶活性下降,且间作组变化幅度较大;间作还能改变作物根围微生物种群结构,提高对重金属吸收有促进作用的微生物种群的丰度,最终实现Cd高积累番茄对Cd的吸收能力提高。研究结果可为利用间作模式修复土壤重金属污染和保障食品安全提供参考。     

Effect of intercropping maize and soybeans on Striga hermonthica parasitism and yield of maize

Striga hermonthica a major biotic constraint to cereal production can be controlled by trap crops. Soybean cultivars vary in ability to stimulate suicidal germination of the weed. An experiment was conducted to select soybean (Glycine max) varieties with the ability to stimulate germination of S. hermonthica seeds. Experiments were conducted with strigol Nijmegen 1® (GR 24), a synthetic stimulant, as a check. In the pot and field experiments, maize (variety WH507) was intercropped with soybeans. Variation occurred among soybean varieties in inducing germination of S. hermonthica. The relative germination induction by soybean varieties ranged from 8% to 66% compared to 70% for synthetic stimulant check. Varieties TGX1448-2E, Tgm 1576, TGX1876-4E and Tgm 1039 had the highest relative germination. Soybean varieties TGX 1831-32E, Tgm944, Tgm 1419 and Namsoy4m had high stimulation but low attachment. Intercropping maize with soybeans in the field led to a low S. hermonthica count and high maize yield.     

麦田套种玉米共生期农田生态环境特征及对夏玉米苗期生长的影响

以登海661、郑单958为试验材料,设置麦田套种和麦收后接茬直播两种不同种植方式对比试验,研究了麦田套种玉米共生期的农田生态环境特征及对玉米苗期生长的影响.结果表明： 麦田套种玉米与直播玉米相比,土壤含水量差异较小;麦田套种玉米耕层（0～5 cm）土壤的种际最高温度比直播玉米低4.8～5.2 ℃,最低温度相近,日平均温度低1.4～1.7 ℃,日变化较小,但均达到种子萌发要求;麦田套种玉米苗期冠层光照强度比直播显著减少,套种玉米地表光强为自然光强的4.4%～10.6%,光照不足是玉米苗弱、迟发的主要原因.与直播相比,套种玉米种子萌发出苗速度和干物质积累速度较慢,叶龄较小,叶片瘦长,株高较矮,玉米苗健壮度下降,单株叶面积较小且叶绿素含量较低;随共生期延长,玉米苗生长受抑制程度增加.在大田生产中,直播可促进种子萌发出苗,有利于夏玉米幼苗的生长发育,形成壮苗.     

Phytoavailability assessment of heavy metals in soils by single extractions and accumulation by Phaseolus vulgaris

In Western Europe, policy makers are currently moving towards a more integrated risk-based approach of soil contamination assessment. As part of this approach, selective single extraction procedures have been proposed to add complementary insights regarding heavy metal behaviour and phytoavailability in soils and sediments. However, there is currently a wide range of such procedures available in literature, hampering standardisation and harmonisation of phytoavailability research of heavy metals. The current study examines shoot accumulation of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn by the test plant Phaseolus vulgaris in 21 soils, differing in soil composition and level of contamination. On these soils, 12 different commonly used extraction procedures have been compared: soil solution extraction by Rhizon soil moisture samplers, 0.01 M CaCl₂, 0.1 M NaNO₃, 1 M NH₄NO₃, 1 M NH₄NOAc, 1 M MgCl₂, 0.11 M HOAc, 0.5 M HNO₃, 0.1 M HCl, DTPA–TEA–CaCl₂, EDTA-NH₄OAc and aqua regia. The plant species used in this study has previously been proposed as a test plant in a bioassay for assessing heavy metal induced oxidative stress in contaminated soils [Van Assche, F., Clijsters, H., 1990. A biological test system for the evaluation of the phytotoxicity of metal-contaminated soils. Environ. Pollut., 66, 157–172]. Cadmium shoot accumulation correlated best with soil solution concentrations, unbuffered nitrate solutions and the dilute CaCl₂ extraction procedure. The same was observed for Zn, yet for this element NH₄OAc and MgCl₂ also provided significant interactions. The best prediction for Ni was observed in the cluster containing CaCl₂ and NH₄NO₃. For Cd, Zn and Ni, the pseudo-total content and the aggressive chelate based and/or acidic extractants did not correlate well with shoot accumulation. Cu and Pb uptake on the other hand was found to correlate significantly (p = 0.01) with total content as well as with all aggressive extraction procedures over the range of soils used in this experiment. In general, the 0.01 M CaCl₂ extraction procedure proved to be the most versatile as it provided a good indication of phytoavailability for all five metals under evaluation.     

玉米-大豆间作和施氮对玉米产量及农艺性状的影响

为研究玉米-大豆间作模式和施氮水平对玉米产量、主要农艺性状及生长动态的影响,进行2个种植模式(玉米单作和玉米-大豆间作)和2个施氮水平(0 kg/hm2,150 kg/hm2)的双因素随机区组试验,以期揭示施氮和间作对玉米产量的影响规律,为提高玉米-大豆间作系统产量提供一定的理论依据。研究结果表明:(1)与不施氮相比,施氮显著增加了春秋两季间作玉米产量,分别达到23.81%和40.99%。施氮处理下的间作玉米地上部生物量较不施氮提高了29.91%,单作模式下显著提高了40.34%,两者差异均达到显著水平。(2)与不施氮相比,施氮150 kg/hm2条件下春玉米单作和间作模式百粒重分别提高了18.92%和19.23%,秋玉米单作和间作模式百粒重分别提高了31.03%和32.75%,差异均达到显著水平。与不施氮相比,施氮150 kg/hm2条件下,单作和间作模式均显著提高秋玉米穗长。与不施氮相比,施氮150 kg/hm2条件下,单作秋玉米的穗粗提高了18.67%,差异显著。(3)施氮和间作均能促进玉米干物质累积、提高株高和叶绿素(SPAD值),且表现为施氮效果高于间作效果。总体来看,种植模式和施氮水平对玉米产量、主要农艺性状和生长动态均有一定影响,且施氮效果优于间作效果。由于土壤具有一定的供氮能力,而间作豆科能为玉米供给一定量的氮素,故对于春玉米而言,施氮效果仅在百粒重中表现,随着土壤原有氮素被玉米吸收利用减少后,供氮能力下降,在秋玉米中施氮效果显著提高。     

不同氮水平下作物养分吸收与利用

玉米与马铃薯间作是重要的间作种植模式,具有较突出的资源利用和产量优势,但养分吸收和利用对作物产量优势的贡献及这种贡献对施氮量的响应机制尚不清楚.本研究采用玉米单作、马铃薯单作和玉米与马铃薯间作3种种植模式,分别设置N₀(0 kg·hm^-2)、N₁(125 kg·hm^-2)、N₂(250 kg·hm^-2)和N₃(375 kg·hm^-2)4个氮水平,通过2年田间小区试验,研究不同氮水平下间作产量优势的营养基础.结果表明: 随着施氮量的增加,氮、磷、钾的单作加权平均吸收量逐渐增加,间作则先增加后减少.间作在N₁水平时具最高的养分吸收优势,分别较单作加权平均值增加氮吸收14.9%、磷吸收38.6%、钾吸收27.8%;间作在N₀和N₃时具有更高的养分利用效率,较单作可提高氮利用效率3.5%～14.3%、磷利用效率3.5%～18.5%、钾利用效率10.6%～31.6%.N₀和N₁时玉米与马铃薯间作具有显著产量优势,其营养基础在N₀时主要是提高了作物养分利用效率,而N₁时则是促进养分吸收的结果.充分发挥间作促进养分吸收对玉米与马铃薯间作产量优势的贡献,需要合理控制氮肥的投入.     

留茬方式对小麦间作玉米产量和水分利用效率的影响

小麦/玉米间作是河西绿洲灌区主要间作模式,但传统间作和套种需水量大,使该地区水资源紧张.2010年在甘肃河西走廊石羊河绿洲灌区进行大田试验,研究传统小麦秸秆焚烧、秸秆翻还和秸秆立茬3种留茬方式对小麦/玉米间作作物籽粒产量、水分利用效率(WUE)和经济效益的影响.结果表明： 与焚烧和翻还的籽粒产量相比,立茬小麦单作分别增加7.2%和5.1%,立茬小麦间作分别增加6.2%和5.1%,立茬玉米单作分别增加4.7%和2.5%,立茬玉米间作分别增加7.2%和3.3%;与焚烧和翻还的WUE相比,立茬小麦单作分别增加20.4%和16.2%,立茬小麦间作分别增加17.9%和14.6%,立茬玉米单作分别增加16.7%和10.9%,立茬玉米间作分别增加11.8%和17.0%.就单作小麦、单作玉米和小麦/玉米平均值而言,焚烧、翻还、立茬处理的纯收益分别为10946、11471和13454元·hm^-2.从籽粒产量、水分利用效率和纯收益等方面考虑,立茬种植方式为甘肃省河西绿洲灌区小麦/玉米最佳种植模式.     

玉/豆和玉/薯模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响

过量施用氮肥造成的环境问题日益严重,氮肥合理使用已成为人们研究的热点.本文研究了西南玉米两种主要套作模式下氮肥运筹对玉米氮素利用和土壤硝态氮残留的影响.结果表明：连续分带轮作种植玉/豆模式后,玉米收获期植株中的氮素积累较玉/薯模式平均提高了6.1%,氮收获指数增加了5.4%,最终使氮肥利用效率提高4.3%,氮素同化量提高了15.1%,氮肥偏生产力提高了22.6%;玉米收获后硝态氮淋溶损失减少,60～120 cm土层中硝态氮残留玉/豆模式较玉/薯模式降低了10.3%,而0～60 cm土层中平均提高了12.9%,有利于培肥地力,两年产量平均较玉/薯模式高1249 kg·hm^-2,增产22%;增加施氮量提高了植株氮素积累,降低了氮肥利用率,显著提高了表层土壤中硝态氮的累积,60～100 cm土层中硝态氮的累积量在0～270 kg·hm^-2处理间差异不显著,继续增加施氮量会显著增加土壤硝态氮的淋溶;氮肥后移显著提高了土壤0～60 cm土层硝态氮的积累.两种模式下施氮量和底追比对玉米氮素吸收和硝态氮残留的影响结果不一致,玉/豆模式以施氮180～270 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶拔节肥∶穗肥=3∶2∶5的施肥方式有利于提高玉米植株后期氮素积累、氮收获指数和氮肥利用效率,减少了氮肥损失,两年最高产量平均可达7757 kg·hm^-2;而玉/薯模式在180 kg·hm^-2、按底肥∶穗肥=5∶5的施肥方式下,氮素积累利用及产量均优于其他处理,两年平均产量为6572 kg·hm^-2,可实现两种模式下玉米高产、高效、安全的氮肥管理体系.
     

Migration of heavy metals in two Japanese soils

Summary The migration of common bio-toxic heavy metals in two typical soils of Japan under the influence of various leaching solutions was investigated.The results of the present study have indicated that the Pb and Cu ions were less mobile than those on Zn and Cd. Thus, the former two ions have largely been concentrated in the surface horizon while the latter two have been localised in the sub-surface layers. Ni has exhibited greater mobility than other heavy metals under all the leaching stress in both the soils. It is clear from the present study that Ni, Cd and Zn might pose a greater threat of ground water pollution than Cu and Pb. The specific migration properties of each metal ion varied depending on the nature of the ion and leaching solutions. The major soil factors governing the mobility of heavy metals in the soils have been discussed in the light of the results of the present investigation.     

The role of intercropping different cereal species in controlling lepidopteran stemborers on maize in Kenya

Abstract:  The effects of mixed cropping systems containing maize, sorghum, millet and beans on infestations of cereals by lepidopteran stemborers and on associated parasitoids, as well as on yields and land equivalent ratios (LER) were assessed during four consecutive rainy seasons at two sites in the semi-arid eastern region of Kenya. Systems containing the non-host bean were more efficient in reducing pest densities than those with millet or sorghum only. Higher parasitism in diversified systems compared to monocrops was due to density-dependent effects rather than superior suitability of such systems to parasitoids. The maize–bean system, which had the highest proportion of bean plants, had LERs >1.65 while most other systems had LERs <1. It is concluded that mixed cropping with several cereal species has little advantages in terms of yield loss abatement due to stemborers and land use efficiency. However, including the drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum and millet in the system stabilizes food security in drought-prone areas such as eastern Kenya.     

Studies on the improvement in iron nutrition of peanut by intercropping with maize on a calcareous soil

Both rhizobox and field experiments were conducted to investigate nutritional interactions between peanut and maize in intercropping systems for Fe acquistion. Field observations indicated that Fe deficiency chlorosis symptoms in peanut grown in monoculture were more severe and widespread compared to those of peanuts intercropped with maize. This indicated a marked improvement in the iron nutrition of peanut intercropped with maize in the field and was further studied. In experiments with rhizoboxes, roots of maize and peanut were either allowed to interact with each other or prevented from making contact by inserting a solid plate between the root systems of the two species. A field experiment for four cropping treatments were examined: peanut grown separately in monoculture, normal peanut/maize intercropping, peanut/maize intercropping with solid plates between the root systems of the two crop species and peanut/maize intercropping with 30 μm nylon nets between the root systems. The results show that the chlorophyll and HCl-extractable Fe concentrations in young leaves of peanut in the intercropping system with unrestricted interactions of the roots of both plant species were much higher than those of peanut in monoculture. In the nylon mesh treatment, the beneficial effects of the maize extended to row 3. The improvement of Fe nutrition in the intercropping system got reduced but not diminished completely in the treatment with nylon net. It is suggested that the improvement in the Fe nutrition of peanut intercropped with maize was mainly caused by rhizosphere interactions between peanut and maize. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of planting patterns on heavy metals (Cd,As) in soils following mangrove wetlands restoration

Abstract

To understand how planting patterns influence As and Cd in soils, the pollution grade release risk and fractions of As and Cd in soils from Jinjiang Estuary wetland were investigated. The geoaccumulation index (I_geo) and risk assessment code (RAC) were used to identify pollution grades and reveal the potential ecological risk of trace metals, respectively. The results showed that the ratios of the acid soluble fraction of Cd in the mangrove area (～65%) were larger than that of the control group (～31%). The residual fraction of As in the mangrove area (～74%) was also larger than that of the control group (～66%). Therefore, the planting of vegetation increased the mobility of Cd and decreased the mobility of As. Variance analysis showed that the total concentrations and fraction of As and Cd significantly differed among various vegetation types and planting densities. Thus, planting patterns might influence the transformation of trace metal fractions in soil, influencing the total concentrations of As and Cd. Furthermore, mangrove reforestation improved the pollution levels of As and Cd and increased the potential release risk of Cd. The study advances current knowledge on the importance of restoring wetland vegetation, providing suggestions on feasible planting patterns.     

A new index for assessing heavy metals contamination in sediments: A case study

In this study, heavy metals contamination in surface sediments of northwest Persian Gulf was investigated and a new index was formulated for assessing severity of heavy metal pollution in aquatic environments. The surface sediment samples were collected from 45 stations. The concentrations of 8 metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd and V) were analyzed. According to the results of potential ecological risk index (RI), pollution load index (PLI) and modified degree of contamination (mCD), based on the average shale, considerable and intense pollution of heavy metals in sediments of study area was not observed. Based on the sediments quality guidelines the concentration of Ni at whole study area has frequently adverse biological effect on aquatic organisms. The mean effects range-median quotient indicated that surface sediments in the vicinity of petrochemical zone and Bahrekan pier with 49% probability of toxicity can be risky for the biota. The Consequence of the cluster analysis and principal component analysis/factor analysis indicated that Fe, Cu, Zn and Cr are mainly originated from natural sources and Ni, Pb, Cd and V are mostly derived from anthropogenic sources. Results of introduced index in this research (Contamination Severity Index) demonstrated that pollution of heavy metals in sediments at several sites is very intense. Assessment of results illustrated that proposed index is more reliable and logical compared with other investigated indices for evaluating heavy metals pollution in sediments of aquatic environments.     

Root and hyphal interactions influence N transfer by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soybean/maize intercropping systems

In maize-soybean intercropping systems, the transfer of N from soybean to maize gives the intercropping system the advantage of improved N utilization and higher yields. Mycorrhiza acts as an important pathway for N transfer, providing a constant supply of N to sustain the growth and development of maize in its early stages. However, it is not clear how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) drive the transfer of N from soybean to maize in the intercropping system. Therefore, we quantified the amount of N transferred from soybean to maize under low and high N levels in the intercropping system, and the abundance and diversity of AMF involved in N transfer (¹⁵N-AMF) under different conditions by ¹⁵N leaf marker and DNA-SIP technology. We found that the interaction between roots and reducing the application of N fertilizer increased the amount of N transfer from soybean to maize. Compared with plastic plate separation (PS), no separation (NS) and mesh separation (MS) significantly increased the N fixation rate (from 14.33% to 39.09%), and the amount of N transfer under NS was 1.95–3.48 times that under MS. N transfer from soybean to maize ranged from 9.7 to 43.42 mg per pot in the no N treatment, while the addition of N fertilizer reduced N transfer by 14.12–66.28%. This is due to root interaction and reduced N fertilization increased the abundance and diversity of the ¹⁵N-AMF community, thereby promoting AMF colonization of maize and soybean roots. AMF colonization in soybean and maize roots under NS treatment was 6.47–17.24% higher than under MS treatment in all three levels of N addition. The increase of mycorrhiza in root system increased the N transfer from soybean to maize significantly. These results suggest that reduced N fertilizer in maize-soybean intercropping systems can increase N transfer by the mycorrhizal pathway, meeting maize N requirements and reducing chemical N fertilizer, which is important for sustainable agricultural development.     

Response of cereals to nitrogen in sole cropping and intercropping with different legumes

The response of sole and intercropped cereal to nitrogen fertilization was compared in three contrasting cropping systems, sorghum/pigeonpea, maize/groundnut, and sorghum/cowpea. The cereal in these systems responded to nitrogen similarly as in sole cropping, although different legumes affected the cereal differently. There was no current season benefit from the legume, whether it matured earlier or later than the cereal, and for high yields the cereal in intercropping needs fertilizer application. Response to nitrogen varied with the amount and distribution of seasonal rainfall. With increased nitrogen fertilizer applied to the intercropped cereal, the legume yields were suppressed. The optimum dose for the intercropped cereal was similar to that for sole cropping but it was 50% less in a dry year particularly, on a shallow Alfisol. The combined yields of both crops made intercropping more profitable than sole cropping. The relative advantage of intercropping was high in the sorghum/pigeonpea system (40 to 70%) because of the greater temporal difference between species, and moderate in the maize/groundnut (13 to 35%), and sorghum/cowpea (18 to 25%) systems. Although the relative advantage of intercropping (expressed as Land Equivalent Ratio (LER)) decreased with N, the economic value, of the advantage was little affected within the optimum N range because absolute yields increased with fertilization.     

减量施氮及施肥距离对玉米/大豆套作系统增产节肥的影响

通过田间试验研究了3种施氮水平(RN₁:210 kg N·hm^-2;RN₂:270 kg N·hm^-2;CN:330 kg N·hm^-2)与4个施肥距离(与窄行玉米距离, D₁:0 cm、D₂:15 cm、D₃:30 cm、D₄:45 cm)对玉米/大豆套作系统增产节肥的影响.结果表明: 与CN相比,RN₂下玉米花后的干物质积累量、转移量及对籽粒的贡献率提高1.4%、23.0%、16.0%,玉米穗粒数与单株产量增加1.6%和4.9%;大豆花前的物质积累量、转移量及对籽粒贡献率提高2.1%、37.9%、26.9%,单株粒数与籽粒产量均增加7.3%;RN₂下玉米/大豆套作系统的作物氮素吸收量与氮肥利用率比CN提高5.0%、44.4%,玉米的土壤总氮含量提高4.1%,大豆的则降低0.8%.各施肥距离间,以D₂处理效果较好;RN₂下,D₂的玉米花后(大豆花前)干物质积累对籽粒贡献率、玉米穗粒数(大豆单株粒数)分别比D₁提高57.2%、9.4%,大豆的则比D₄提高335.2%、2.4%;D₂的玉米/大豆套作系统氮素吸收量及氮肥利用率分别比D₁提高15.1%和112.4%,比D₄提高21.4%和66.3%;玉米土壤总氮含量D₂比D₁提高6.6%,大豆土壤总氮含量D₂比D₄提高16.0%.合理的减量施氮和施肥距离有利于玉米/大豆套作系统下作物干物质向籽粒转运,提高作物的单株粒数、百粒重和产量,促进作物氮素吸收与氮肥高效利用,达到节肥增产的目的.