Competition and Crop Performance in a Leek–Celery Intercropping System

Abstract

In an intercropping system with leek (Allium porrum L.) and celery (Apium graveolens L. var. dulce (Mill.) Pers.), weed suppression is improved through increased canopy light interception. Intra‐ and interspecific competition in the system, however, affects the performance of the crops with respect to yield and quality. The objective of the study was to quantify intra‐ and interspecific competition by leek and celeriac [Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum (Mill.) Gaud.‐Beaup] or celery in an intercropping system. A 3 yr study was carried out to investigate the effects of plant density, relative proportion of component crop, spatial arrangement, and N input on biomass production, crop quality, and N use in an intercropping system with leek and celeriac or celery. Land equivalent ratios exceeding unity were found, indicating an improved resource use by the crop mixture. Relative yield totals around one showed that with respect to biomass production, no yield advantage was found in the crop mixture. Analyses using a hyperbolic yield density response model showed that the competitive ability of celeriac and celery was significantly higher than that of leek. Effects of intra‐ and interspecific competition resulted for both crops in a reduction of the quality. Nitrogen utilization efficiency (EU) was generally poor in all crop stands, particularly at a high N application rate. The intercropping system needs improvement with respect to crop quality, and it is suggested to apply ecophysiological crop growth models to maximize crop complementarity and competitive ability against weeds.

Productivity, Weed Dynamics, Nutrient Mining, and Monetary Advantage of Maize-Legume Intercropping in the Eastern Himalayan Region of India

“…These results suggest that the canopy became denser with increasing intercrop density; thus weed density and weed biomass were lowered by intercropping of M with legumes at higher intercrop densities. Shading by the crop canopy has been recognized as the main factor promoting weed suppression in intercrops (Baumann et al, 2001). …”

Biotic interactions, ecological knowledge and agriculture

“…for each crop. The most common designs are additive or replacement series, although response model designs are increasingly used (Baumann et al 2001;Connolly et al 2001). With the development of ecophysiological models for many crops, both mechanistic and descriptive models are being used to optimize intercrops for yield and crop quality (Baumann et al 2002b).…”

Teor foliar de nutrientes em plantas daninhas e de café cultivadas em competição

“…Algumas pesquisas têm comprovado a eficiência na adoção de sistemas integrados de manejo de plantas daninhas com base em cultivos consorciados. Nestes, espécies cultivadas junto com a cultura principal, em diferentes densidades, são capazes de suprimir a interferência de plantas daninhas na entrelinha da cultura (Baumann et al, 2001). Há relatos da experiência bem sucedida do uso de faixas de controle de plantas daninhas, como Brachiaria decumbens (Souza et al, 2006) e adubo verde (Paulo et al, 2001), entre outras espécies, em consórcio com o café.…”