Production potential of cassava-based cropping systems
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Date
1986
Authors
Ashokan, P K
KAU
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
A series of field experiments were conducted during the years
1983-84 and 1984-85 at College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural
University,
Trichur, to evaluate some of the cassava based
intercropping systems and to investigate the interspecific interactions.
There were three field trials and two micro plot trials. In the first field
trial, the treatments were factorial combinations of two planing
geometries of cassava viz., paired row and square cluster planting
geometries of cassava viz., paired row and square cluster planting and
four intercropping practices viz.,
intercropping with
colocasia,
elephant foot yam, banana and no intercropping. In the second field
trial, there wer 12 treatments derived from the factorial combinations
of three geometries of planting (paired row, square cluster and
triangular cluster) and four intercropping practices (growing a floor
crop of cowpea, groundnut, elephant foot yam and not growing any
floor crop) in a cassava + banana intercropping system. In the third
field trial, the possibility of growing two crops of
groundnut in sequence ( Kharif and
cowpea and/or
Rabi) and the fertilizer
requirements of intercrops were studied. All the three field trials were
laid out in randomised Block Design and replicated thrice.
In one of the micro-plot trials, 32P absorption by the component
species in a cassava + banana + elephant foot yam
cassava planted in square cluster was studied.
polyculture with
In the other micro plot trial 32P absorption by cassava and groundnut
under the situations of cassava planted in paired row-ridge, mound and
flat bed methods were studied. These two microplot trials were laid out
in Completely Randomized Design with three replications.
Paired row and square clustered planting of cassava gave
similar yields as that of normal method when the plant population was
the same. Intercropping cassava in square cluster with elephant foot
yam resulted in maximum yield of cassava (20.1 t/ha) and elephant foot
yam (10.6 t/ha). Banana and colocasia were also found to be successful
as intercrops in cassava planted in paired row or square cluster.
Intercropping with elephant foot yam and banana resulted in higher
yield of cassava.
The intercrops colocasia and elephant foot yam recorded lesser
yields than the sole crops whereas in intercrop banana such difference
was not observed. The maximum LER of 1.81 was obtained in cassava
+ banana cropping system. The cassava + elephant foot yam
intercropping removed 133, 11, 107, 46, 12 and 18 kg/ha of N, P, K, Ca,
Mg and S respectively wheras in the cassava + banana combination the
corresponding figures were 227, 14, 236, 70, 16 and 11 kg/ha.
From the two year trials, the cassava + banana + elephant foot
yam cropping system with cassava planted in square cluster (9070
plants/ha) / triangular cluster (6800 plants/ha) was found to be the
most productive and economical cropping system.
Elephant foot yam was found to be shade tolerant and the yield
reduction in intercropped situation was only marginal. The floor crops
of cowpea and groundnut were successful in the first year. The land
equivalent ratio in cassava + banana + elephant foot yam intercropping
was 1.7 and this cropping system gave a net profit of
Rs. 13300 per
hectare. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S removal in a cassava + banana +
elephant foot yam cropping system was found to be 198, 24, 200, 166,
34 and 19 kg/ha respectively.
Sequential intercropping in paired row planted cassava was not
successful, but growing groundnut and red gram simultaneously in the
interspace was found to be successful; groundnut was harvested after
four months, red gram after eight months and cassava after nine
months. The fertilizer requirements of
intercrop
cowpea and
groundnut were found to be only about 60-90 per cent of the sole crop
recommendation and the optimum doses of N, P and K worked out
were 6, 18 and 18 kg/ha for cowpea and 4, 30 and 30 kg/ha for
groundnut. The main crop of cassava also was benefited by the
application of fertilizers to the intercrops.
The organic carbon and total nitrogen content of soil were
reduced in two or three component intercropping systems by the two
year cropping practices. The exchangeable P, K, Ca, Mg and SO
4
increased in situations where legmues alone were intercopped and
decreased when banana and a floor crop of cowpea, groundnut or
elephant foot yam were intercropped. The micronutrient status of the
soil was not remarkably changed by the two season cropping. The
intercrop and sole crop systems were not different in their influence on
the post crop nutrient status of the soil.
The radiophosphorus applied to the root zone of any of the
components in the mixed cropping system cassava + banana + elephant
foot yam with cassava in square cluster planting was absorbed not only
by the treated plants but also by the surrounding species. Banana was
the most dominant component in this polyculture.
In the cassava + groundnut cropping system, cassava was the
most dominant component, accumulating about 90 to 98 per cent of the
32P applied to cassava on mounds/ridges and about 50 percent of that
applied to the groundnut root zone in the interspaces. Groundnut root
system was small and less active and was able to derive only about 2 to
5 per cent of the 32P applied to cassava mounds. It was also deduced
that the root interactions were stronger when all the components of the
intercropping systems were a longer duration and it would be mild
with legume intercrops of short duration.
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