Maximizing Land and Water Productivity by Intercropping Sunflower with Peanut under Sprinkler Irrigation

Abstract

Effective intercropping pattern, use of highly efficient irrigation system and proper irrigation scheduling are one of the current challenges in agriculture sector for saving water, maximizing crop production and economic benefits. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted at Ismailia Research Station (30o 35' N latitude, 30o 26' E longitude, 20.0m above MSL), Egypt during the two growing seasons of 2016 and 2017 to study the effect of three irrigation treatments (1.2, 1.0 and 0.8 ETo calculated by the BIS model) and five peanut/sunflower intercropping patterns ((P1 = 100% peanut + 25 % sunflower), (P2 = 100% peanut + 33% sunflower), (P3 = 100% peanut + 50% sunflower), (P4 = sole peanut), and (P5 = sole sunflower)) on yield and its components of both crops, applied irrigation water, consumptive use, land and water productivity and net income. The experimental layout was designed in strip plot with three replicates. The results indicated that light intensity percentage significantly decreased with the 1.2 ETo treatment. The highest values of growth and yield of pod, seed and oil of peanut and sunflower were detected with the application of 1.2 ETo. Intercropping sunflower with peanut significantly reduced the yield of both crops in both seasons. However, intercropping sunflower at low density (P1) recorded the maximum values for yield and yield components of peanut, compared to the P2 and P3 treatments. The highest values of applied water (451 and 439mm) and consumptive use (403 and 415mm) were obtained in the first and second growing seasons, respectively when P3 (100% P + 50% S) was irrigated with 1.2 of ETo. Intercropping sunflower with peanut increased water use efficiency (kg/mm or cereal unit/mm) compared with sole crop. The average of water equivalent ratio was highest (1.255) produced with P3 under 1.0 ETo treatment, as average of both growing seasons. The maximum value of land equivalent ratio (1.569) and net income (L.E. 22589/ha) were recorded with P3 intercropping pattern irrigated with 1.2 of ETo treatment, on average basis of both growing seasons. Sunflower was the dominant component for the all intercropping systems, while peanut was the dominated crop. Thus, we recommend the implementation of P3 intercropping system, namely 100% peanut + 50% sunflower irrigated with 1.2 of ETo to increase land productivity in sandy soil under sprinkler irrigation or with 1.0 of ETo to save on the applied irrigation water, with yield lose were low. Under severe drought conditions, we recommended application of 0.8 ETo.

Competitiveness and Profitability of Intercropping Sunflower with Peanut under Different Irrigation Water Levels and Potassium Fertilizer Rates

“…These data reveal that intercropping patterns responded similarly to irrigation water levels for all the studied peanut traits. These results are in agreement with those obtained by El-Mehy et al [15] who reported that the interaction between irrigation treatments and intercropping patterns had no significant effect on pod yield ha −1 in both seasons.…”

“…These data reveal that each of these two factors act dependently on head diameter and head seed weight. These results are parallel with those obtained by El-Mehy et al [15] who demonstrated that head diameter and head weight were influenced significantly by interaction between irrigation treatments and intercropping patterns in both seasons.…”

“…It is important to mention that appropriate plant density of sunflower could form suitable spatial arrangement of intercropping sunflower with peanut, especially Pal et al [14] indicated that more seed yield was achieved when intra-plant spacing of 20 cm was maintained that significantly declined yield with further increase or decrease. A reduced sunflower planting density to 25% S. A. Ouda et al DOI: 10.4236/as.2018.98070 1009 Agricultural Sciences of the recommended plant density resulted in the highest peanut yield [15].…”

Intercropping Systems of Sunflower with Peanut under Different Irrigation Regimes and Potassium Fertilizer Levels

“…The few previous studies on intercropping sunflower with peanut in Egypt dealt with either the appropriate sunflower planting density (Abd El-Zaher et al, 2009 andEl-Mehy et al, 2018) and/or appropriate irrigation amounts (El-Mehy et al, 2018). Thus, this investigation was done with the aim to determine the suitable arrangement for sunflower and peanut in an intercropping system, the required irrigation water amounts, and the required potassium fertilizer.…”

“…Abd El-Zaher et al (2009) reported that highest value for yield of peanut were obtained with 100% of peanut planting density and 33% of sunflower planting density. A reduced sunflower planting density, namely 25% was found to result in the highest peanut yield in sunflower intercropped with peanut system (El-Mehy et al, 2018).…”