Dynamics of solar radiation and soybean yield in agroforestry systems

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max L.) monocropping have had a great socioeconomic and environmental impact on the world and agroforestry systems has been considered an alternative for more sustainable production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different arrangements of agroforestry systems of the species E. urophylla x E. grandis and P. dubium and the pruning of the trees on the dynamics of solar radiation and soybean yield. A field experiment was conducted in Southern Brazil. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the solar radiation transmissivity and the productive performance of the soybean were evaluated. In this study, the soybean yield was determined by the arrangement of the agroforestry system and forest species utilized. The soybean crop cultivated in the understory of the P. dubium trees showed the highest yield response. The use of silvicultural practices for the management of forest species should be considered to generate the balance of the productive system. In this context, tree pruning is a viable side for agroforestry systems, as it promotes an increase in the incidence of solar radiation in the understory, resulting in an increase in soybean yield, especially when integrated with P. dubium.

Effect of Tree Presence and Soil Characteristics on Soybean Yield and Quality in an Innovative Alley-Cropping System

“…Recently, [14] a field trial in Uganda demonstrated that soybean was significantly affected by intercropping with a deciduous tree, Vitellaria paradoxa, showing a yield reduction with respect to an open field cultivation, ranging from 39% to 46% when cultivated under the canopy of young and mature trees, respectively. Under humid, sub-tropical conditions in Brazil [13], it was shown that soybean yield parameters were affected by LA reduction in two agroforestry systems based upon eucalyptus and Peltophorum dubium. Their results highlighted that the yield components of soybean, cultivated in a 12-m-wide alley-cropping system, were significantly reduced by LA equal to 65% in the understory layer.…”

“…To date, imported soybean meal for animal feeding (i) represents 70% of protein-rich feedstuff used in the European Union (EU) [8] and (ii) it is associated with an increase of environmental impacts generated by land clearing in South America [9]. Worldwide, soybean represents one of the largest sources of vegetable oil and animal protein feed [10].The effect of intercropping on soybean productivity has been studied under several agroforestry systems and in different biogeographic regions, resulting in different responses according to tree density when it comes to elements such as the competition for light, water and nutrients [11][12][13][14]. In particular, Reynolds [11] observed that, under temperate climate conditions, the reduction of light availability, more than the competition for soil water, caused a significant decline of the Net Assimilation of plants within a distance of 2 m from the tree rows.…”

“…The effect of intercropping on soybean productivity has been studied under several agroforestry systems and in different biogeographic regions, resulting in different responses according to tree density when it comes to elements such as the competition for light, water and nutrients [11][12][13][14]. In particular, Reynolds [11] observed that, under temperate climate conditions, the reduction of light availability, more than the competition for soil water, caused a significant decline of the Net Assimilation of plants within a distance of 2 m from the tree rows.…”

Effects of trees and nitrogen supply on macronutrient cycling in integrated crop–livestock systems

“…The opposite occurred with the proportion of grain in the soybean residue, that is, it reduced from P1 to P5 (Table 5). These last results could indicate a greater allocation of photoassimilates for stem elongation, and therefore, growth in height, particularly from P3 to P5 (Table 5), due to light reduction (Table 2, Caron et al., 2018) and a consequent reduction in grain loss during harvesting. It is worth highlighting that these differences between positions in the CLT system have not resulted in significant differences in the parameters of the nonlinear model fitted to the DM and N, P, and K release, as cited above (Supplemental Figures S1 and S2).…”

Bean–soybean succession under full sun and in agroforestry systems: Impacts on radiation use efficiency, growth and yield

“…Caron et al. (2018) studying the dynamics of solar radiation in different agroforestry arrangements (6 m × 1.5 m and 12 m × 3 m) found 82.58% superiority in the amounts available to the understory in more spaced arrangements. Similarly, Sgarbossa et al.…”