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.     

Evaluation of N2-fixation and nitrogen economy of a maize/cowpea intercrop system using15N dilution methods

Yields of above ground biomass and total N were determined in summer-grown maize and cowpea as sole crops or intercrops, with or without supplementary N fertilizer (25 kg N ha⁻¹, urea) at an irrigated site in Waroona, Western Australia over the period 1982–1985. Good agreement was obtained between estimates of N₂ fixation of sole or intercrop cowpea (1984/85 season) based on the¹⁵N natural abundance and¹⁵N fertilizer dilution techniques, both in the field and in a glasshouse pot study. Field-grown cowpea was estimated to have received 53–69% of its N supply from N₂-fixation, with N₂-fixation onlyslightly affected by intercropping or N fertilizer application. Proportional reliance on N₂-fixation of cowpea in glasshouse culture was lower (36–66%) than in the field study and more affected by applied N. Budgets for N were drawn up for the field intercrops, based on above-ground seed yields, return of crop residues, inputs of fixed N and fertilizer N. No account was taken of possible losses of N through volatilization, denitrification and leaching or gains of N in the soil from root biomass. N₂-fixation was estimated tobe 59 kg N ha⁻¹ in the plots receiving no fertilizer N, and 73 kg N ha⁻¹ in plots receiving 25 kg N ha⁻¹ as urea. Comparable fixation by sole cowpea was higher (87 and 82 kg N ha⁻¹ respectively) but this advantage was outweighed by greater land use efficiency by the intercrop than sole crops.     

Grain yield, symbiotic N2 fixation and interspecific competition for inorganic N in pea-barley intercrops

The effect of mixed intercropping of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), compared to monocrop cultivation, on the yield and crop-N dynamics was studied in a 4-yr field experiment using ¹⁵N-isotope dilution technique. Crops were grown with or without the supply of 5 g ¹⁵N-labeled N m^-2. The effect of intercropping on the dry matter and N yields, competition for inorganic N among the intercrop components, symbiotic fixation in pea and N transfer from pea to barley were determined. As an average of four years the grain yields were similar in monocropped pea, monocropped and fertilized barley and the intercrop without N fertilizer supply. Nitrogen fertilization did not influence the intercrop yield, but decreased the proportion of pea in the yield. Relative yield totals (RYT) showed that the environmental sources for plant growth were used from 12 to 31% more efficiently by the intercrop than by the monocrops, and N fertilization decreased RYT-values. Intercrop yields were less stable than monocrop barley yields, but more stable than the yield of monocropped pea. Barley competed strongly for soil and fertilizer N in the intercrop, and was up to 30 times more competitive than pea for inorganic N. Consequently, barley obtained a more than proportionate share of the inorganic N in the intercrop. At maturity the total recovery of fertilizer N was not significantly different between crops, averaging 65% of the supplied N. The fertilizer N recovered in pea constituted only 9% of total fertilizer-N recovery in the intercrop. The amount of symbiotic N₂ fixation in the intercrop was less than expected from its composition and the fixation in monocrop. This indicates that the competition from barley had a negative effect on the fixation, perhaps via shading. At maturity, the average amount of N₂ fixation was 17.7 g N m^-2 in the monocrop and 5.1 g N m^-2 in the intercropped pea. A higher proportion of total N in pea was derived from N₂ fixation in the intercrop than in the monocrop, on average 82% and 62%, respectively. The ¹⁵N enrichment of intercropped barley tended to be slightly lower than of monocropped barley, although not significantly. Consequently, there was no evidence for pea N being transferred to barley. The intercropping advantage in the pea-barley intercrop is mainly due to the complimentary use of soil inorganic and atmospheric N sources by the intercrop components, resulting in reduced competition for inorganic N, rather than a facilitative effect, in which symbiotically fixed N₂ is made available to barley.Abbreviations MC monocrop - IC intercrop - PMC pea monocrop - BMC barley monocrop - PIC pea in intercrop - BIC barley in intercrop     

Spatial distribution of root activity and nitrogen fixation in sorghum/pigeonpea intercropping on an Indian Alfisol

A medium-duration pigeonpea cultivar (ICP 1–6) and a hybrid sorghum (CSH 5) were grown on a shallow Alfisol in monocropping and intercropping systems. Using a monolith method, spatial distribution of nodulation, acetylene reduction activity (ARA) and root respiration were measured.The number, mass and ARA of nodules decreased exponentially with distance from the plant base except at the late reproductive stage. Nodulation and ARA tended to be higher in the intercrop than in the monocrop.Respiration rate of roots increased with distance from the plant base and reached a maximum value at about 20–30 cm. The rate was higher in pigeonpea than in sorghum and also higher in intercrop than in monocrop.This study suggests that pigeonpea roots are physiologically more active than sorghum roots, implying that pigeonpea may become a strong competitor for nutrients in the soil when intercropped. The nitrogen-fixing ability of pigeonpea may be enhanced by intercropping because the sorghum rapidly absorbed inorganic N which would otherwise inhibit N₂ fixation.     

橡胶-砂仁复合系统生物产量、营养元素空间格局的研究

通过对橡胶与砂仁间作林和同龄纯胶林各层次各器官生物量及１０种营养元素含量的测定,对比研究了两种分乔木层生物量按径级分配,林分平均净生产量,营养元素的积累分布规律,林龄为３０ａ,间作龄为８ａ的胶砂间作林的总生物量为１３９．８５ｔ／ｈｍ＾２。其中乔木层占７２．７％,间作层占２２．６％,枯落物层占５．２％,与同龄纯胶林相比,乔木层提高了７．６％,枯落物层提高了３８．９％,两种林分乔木层地上部分生物量约占     

The influence of intercropping with Allium on some insect populations in potato (Solatium tuberosum)

Two field experiments were conducted in West Java, Indonesia to investigate the effects on insect populations in a potato crop of intercropping with Allium cepa or A. sativum. Intercropping reduced populations of Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii and Empoasca spp. when less than 0.75 m separated the potato plants and Allium spp. Leaf damage to potato by Henosepilachna sparsa was also reduced at this spacing; but populations of Thrips palmi or T. parvispinus were increased. The implications of these trends are noted.     

间作植物和茬口对连作党参生长和品质产量的影响

选择两种茬口(轮作茬、连作茬)和6种植物材料(党参、大蒜、玉米、黄芪、苦参、向日葵),组成党参单作和间作6种种植模式,设置茬口和间作模式两因素田间随机区组试验,通过监测不同生长时期党参的生长指标(蔓长、主根长、主根直径、地下部分鲜干重)、根部产量及品质指标(根部多糖含量、炔苷含量、醇溶性浸出物含量和灰分含量)的变化衡量不同茬口和间作植物对党参连作障碍的缓解效应。结果表明：(1)轮作茬口下党参单作及各间作处理对党参生长、品质和产量的改善效果都较连作茬口下明显,且两茬口下各间作处理的改善效果都较党参单作明显。(2)与向日葵、大蒜和玉米间作处理对两茬口党参的主根长、主根直径、地下部分鲜干重的提升效果比党参单作和其余间作处理(与黄芪、苦参间作)更显著。(3)大蒜和向日葵间作处理能够显著提高两茬口党参根部产量,尤其大蒜表现最优,与其间作的轮作茬和连作茬党参分别较各自对照增产49.92%和22.55%。(4)与大蒜间作能有效提升两茬口党参根部多糖含量、炔苷含量和醇溶性浸出物的含量,党参单作和其余间作处理对两茬口连作党参的品质提升效果不及大蒜间作处理理想。研究发现,从党参长势及根部产量和品质综合分析,两茬口下党参与大蒜间作最有利于党参植株生长,能有效缓解党参连作障碍,并显著提高其药用部位的产量和品质,且轮作茬口下的提高效应更明显。     

不同磷水平下玉米-大豆间作系统根系形态变化

本研究通过盆栽试验,探讨不同磷水平(0、50、100 mg P₂O₅·kg^-1,分别用P₀、P₅₀、P₁₀₀表示)下玉米与大豆间作系统根系形态的变化及其与磷吸收的关系,以明确玉米-大豆间作系统促进磷吸收的作用机制。结果表明: 不同磷水平下,间作显著改变了玉米和大豆的根系形态参数,提高了大豆根冠比。与单作模式相比,间作使玉米和大豆的根长、根表面积、根体积、根系干重分别显著增加25.6%、22.0%、39.2%、34.3%和28.1%、29.7%、37.3%、62.3%,而平均根直径分别显著降低15.2%和11.7%。不同磷水平下,磷素吸收当量比(LER_P)>1,玉米-大豆间作具有明显的磷吸收优势,且LER_P不受磷水平调控。间作诱导根系形态改变与磷吸收增加密切相关,其中玉米根系表面积增大、大豆根系长度增加是驱动玉米-大豆间作系统磷高效吸收的主要机制。根据回归方程,玉米根表面积和大豆根系长度增大10%,磷吸收量提高5%～10%。因此,与中等施磷水平(P₁₀₀)下的单作相比,玉米-大豆间作条件下磷肥减施1/2(P₅₀)并未降低玉米的磷吸收量。综上,玉米-大豆间作体系在减施磷肥条件下具有维持作物磷吸收的潜力。     

Plant architectural responses in simultaneous maize/soybean strip intercropping do not lead to a yield advantage

Maize/soybean strip intercropping is a commonly used system throughout China with high crop yields at reduced nutrient input compared to sole maize. Maize is the taller crop, and due to its dominance in light capture over soybean in the intercrop, maize is expected to outperform maize in sole cropping. Conversely, soybean is the subordinate crop and intercropped soybean plants are expected to perform worse than sole soybean. Crop plants show plastic responses in plant architecture to their growing conditions to forage for light and avoid shading. There is little knowledge on plant architectural responses to growing conditions in simultaneous (non-relay) intercropping and their relationship to species yields. A two-year field experiment with two simultaneous maize/soybean intercropping systems with narrow and wide strips was conducted to characterise architectural traits of maize and soybean plants grown as intercrop and sole crops. Intercropped maize plants, especially those in border rows, had substantially greater leaf area, biomass and yield than maize plants in sole crops. Intercropped soybean plants, especially those in border rows, had lower leaf area, biomass and yield than sole soybean plants. Overall intercrop performance was similar to that of sole crops, with the land equivalent ratio (LER) being only slightly greater than one (1.03–1.08). Soybean displayed typical shade avoidance responses in the intercrop, such as greater internode elongation and changes in specific leaf area, but these responses could not overcome the consequences of the competition with the taller maize plants. Therefore, in contrast to relay intercrop systems, in the studied simultaneous maize/soybean system, plastic responses did not contribute to practically relevant increases in resource capture and yield at whole system (i.e., intercrop) level.     

Evaluation of legume intercrops on the population dynamics and damage level of burrowing nematode (Radopholus similis) in banana (Musa spp.)

Radopholus similis is the most destructive plant parasitic nematode in banana production systems. A glasshouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of legume intercrops on R. similis population and damage level in banana. A trial was laid out in a randomised complete block design with five treatments and five replications. The treatments were banana/cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) intercrop, banana/sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) intercrop, sole banana, sole banana with nematicide (Fenamiphos) and sole cowpea. Sunn hemp intercrop was suppressing R. similis population densities and reduced banana root damage the most compared to tested treatments. The legume intercropped banana plants had a significantly higher fresh root mass as the sole-cropped banana with nematicide while the sole-cropped banana without nematicide had significantly lowest fresh root mass. Sunn hemp and cowpea legumes are recommended for adoption by smallholder banana farmers as alternatives to nematicide use.