Agronomic efficiency of intercropping tomato and lettuce

Abstract

Four experiments were carried out at the São Paulo State University, Brazil, with the aim of determining the agronomic viability of intercropping tomato and lettuce, under greenhouse conditions. The studied intercropping systems were established by transplanting lettuce at 0, 10, 20 and 30 days after transplanting (DAT) tomato and by transplanting tomato at 0, 10, 20 and 30 DAT lettuce. Intercropped tomato and lettuce were evaluated during two seasons and compared to their sole cropping. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with nine treatments. The productivity and the classification of the tomato fruits were not influenced by having lettuce intercropped with it, but lettuce production was lowered when tomato was intercropped with it. The longer the delay in lettuce transplanting, the greater the reduction in its productivity. There was an effect of cropping season on the extent of the agronomic advantage of intercropping over sole cropping. In the first cropping season, intercropping established by transplanting lettuce during the interval between 30 days before up to 20 DAT tomato yielded land use efficiency (LUE) indices of 1.63 to 2.22. In the second period, intercropping established with the transplanting of lettuce up to 30 days before tomato yielded LUE indices of 1.57 to 2.05.

Morpho-anatomy of leaves and yield of pineapple plant in intercropping with cassava

“…Shading a crop with multiple species in a polyculture system is considered by many researchers to be an advantageous method for augmenting productivity and increasing the revenue of an agricultural unit (BEZERRA NETO et al, 2012) while, at the same time, reducing negative environmental impacts (CECÍLIO FILHO et al, 2011;PYPERS et al, 2011). The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of shade in pineapple plant with cassava, on the yields of pineapple fruit sand cassava roots, on the morph-anatomical variation, damage by solar radiation and chlorophyll content of pineapple leaves.…”

Productive Performance of Carrot and Cowpea Intercropping System Under Different Spatial Arrangements and Population Densities

“…The soil of the experimental area was classified as Dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (EMBRAPA, 2009). Simple soil samples were collected at the experiment site with the help of a Dutch drill at a depth of 0-20 cm and then homogenized to obtain a composite sample, which was sent for analysis in the Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Laboratory at the Department of Environmental and Technological Sciences of UFERSA.…”

“…The harvest areas were constituted by the central rows of plants, excluding the first and last plants of each row, used as borders. The plant populations recommended for the cultivation of the single crops of cowpea and carrot in the region are 200,000 (EMBRAPA, 2009) and 500,000 (OLIVEIRA et al, 2012) plants per ha, respectively.…”

“…Because it is an easy-to-implement practice, it allows a higher density of plants per unit area by improving the soil cover, diversifying the production, and reducing the risk of system failure (CECÍLIO FILHO; REZENDE; CANATO, 2007). The increase of productivity in this system depends, among other factors, on its management and on the cultures involved (CECÍLIO FILHO et al, 2011). The proper management of the factors of production, such as spatial arrangement of crops, population density, and planting density, among others, can reduce competition for the use of resources.…”

Analise da viabilidade econômica de policultivo orgânico

“…Polyculture systems offer a number of advantages over monocultures, in that they can enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact and lessen the natural risks of agriculture (PYPERS et al, 2011;CECÍLIO FILHO et al, 2011;BEZERRA NETO et al, 2012). The land-use efficiency in organic polyculture of passion fruit, pineapple, corn and cassava various between 2.45 and 2.77 (ARAÚJO NETO et al, 2014).…”