Optimizing yield and economic returns of rain-fed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through water conservation under potato-legume intercropping systems

Gitari, Harun I.; Gachene, Ckk; Karanja, NK; Kamau, Solomon; Nyawade, Shadrack O.; Sharma, Kalpana; Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2018.06.005

Cited by 48 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Legumes could therefore access cooler subsoil layers more easily than the potato crop. This is in agreement with the previous studies which have established that potato has shallow fibrous root systems which are concentrated in the topsoil layer making the crop highly sensitive to fluctuating soil moisture contents and high surface soil temperatures (Nyawade et al 2018a;Aliche et al 2018;Gitari et al 2018b).…”

Section: Relation Of Potato Yield Crop Water Productivity and Radiatsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…In sole potato, heat from the topsoil was more easily lost to evaporation through the intervening bare soil surfaces. Gitari et al (2018b) found that intercropping potato with Dolichos lablab in the subhumid zones increased crop water productivity by 20% due to the creation of canopy shades which lowered the soil surface evaporation. The reduced ability of dolichos to confer protective shade in the upper highland zone was attributed to its low adaptation to low temperature conditions (Cook et al 2005).…”

Section: Soil Temperature and Soil Water Contentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Elevated soil temperatures within the potato rhizosphere induce moisture stress that increases total dry matter allocation to roots and stems at expense of tubers thus reducing crop water productivity (Thornton et al 1996). Raising night temperatures over the range of 0-20°C increases potato root length while temperature increase to above 25°C induces sharp reduction in the number and weight of tubers (Wilkinson and Davies 2002;Nyawade et al 2018b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The adverse effects of elevated soil temperatures on potato growth can be optimized by cropping systems capable of enhancing persistence of leaf area coverage. Intercropping is one of such systems well recommended due to its multiple benefits (Muthoni et al 2013;Gitari et al 2018aGitari et al , 2018bGitari et al , 2019Nyawade et al 2018a). Intercropping achieves greater complementarity of light use per unit area of land through the use of crop mixtures having different rooting ability, canopy structure, height, and nutrient requirements (Nyawade et al 2019a(Nyawade et al , 2019b.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intercropping Optimizes Soil Temperature and Increases Crop Water Productivity and Radiation Use Efficiency of Rainfed Potato

et al. 2019

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Integrating crop species with different photosynthetic pathways has great potential to increase efficiency in the use of scarce resources. In order to tap the resource complementarity emanating from this mix, this study intercropped potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with lima bean (Phaseolus lunatas L.) and dolichos (Lablab purpureous L.), and related soil temperature with radiation use efficiency and crop water productivity of rainfed potato in the upper midland (1552 m above sea level (masl), lowerhighland (1854 masl) and upper-highland (2553 masl)) agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Leaf area index (LAI), light interception, soil temperature and soil water contents (SWC) were quantified at different stages of potato growth and related with the radiation use efficiency (RUE) and crop water productivity (CWP) of potato. Intercropping increased crop LAI by 26-57% relative to sole potato stands and significantly lowered the soil temperatures in the 0-30 cm depth by up to 7.3°C. This caused an increase in SWC by up to 38%, thus increasing RUE by 56-78% and CWP by 45-67%. Intercropping potato with legumes is coupled with optimum root-zone soil temperature and soil water content, thus potentially exerting additive relations in radiation interception and subsequent conversion into crop biomass. ResumenLa integración de especies de cultivos con diferentes rutas fotosintéticas tiene un gran potencial para aumentar la eficiencia en el uso de escasos recursos. A fin de aprovechar la complementariedad de la fuente surgida de esta mezcla, en este estudio se intercaló la papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) con el frijol lima (Phaseolus lunatus L.) y frijol de Egipto (Lablab purpureous L.), y se relacionó con temperatura del suelo, con el uso de la eficiencia radioactiva y la productividad del agua del cultivo de la papa de secano en área de altura media (1552 metros sobre el nivel del mar, masl), tierra elevada baja (1854 masl) y tierra elevada alta (2553 masl) en la zona agroecológica de Kenia. Se cuantificó el índice de área foliar (LAI), la intercepción de la luz, la temperatura del suelo y su contenido de agua (SWC), a diferentes etapas del crecimiento de la papa y se relacionó con el uso eficiente de la radiación (RUE) y la productividad del agua del cultivo de la papa (CWP). Los cultivos mezclados aumentaron el LAI en 26-27% en relación al cultivo de la papa sola y bajó significativamente las temperaturas del suelo en los 0-30 cm de profundidad hasta 7.3°C. Esto causó un incremento en SWC por hasta 38%, incrementando, por ende, la RUE en 56-78% y la CWP en 45-67%. Intercalando papas con leguminosas se acopla con la temperatura óptima de la zona radical del suelo y el contenido de agua, ejerciendo, en consecuencia, potencialidad en las relaciones aditivas en la intercepción de la radiación y la subsecuente conversión hacia la biomasa del cultivo.

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Section: Relation Of Potato Yield Crop Water Productivity and Radiatsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Soil Temperature and Soil Water Contentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intercropping Optimizes Soil Temperature and Increases Crop Water Productivity and Radiation Use Efficiency of Rainfed Potato

et al. 2019

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“…In Kenya, the low soil N content is aggravated by the poor potato cropping systems that majorly entail sole cropping with limited capacity to provide adequate soil cover and protect soil from erosion (Nyawade et al 2018b;Gitari et al 2018aGitari et al , b, 2019Muthoni et al 2013). The nitrogen input not assimilated by potato crop accumulates in the soil as nitrate that is leached through irrigation and rainwater or lost through volatilization or denitrification (Gentile et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping

Nyawade

Karanja

Gachene

et al. 2020

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Negative nitrogen balance represents a major factor causing low potato yield in potato growing areas of Kenya while its excessive surplus poses a significant environmental concern. In order to synchronize this tradeoff, a field trial integrating potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) and dolichos (Lablab purpureus L.) in intercropping system was conducted in the upper midland [1552 m above sea level (masl), lower highland (1894 masl) and upper highland (2552 masl)] agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Nitrogen gains from mineralization, fertilization, biological fixation, and outputs from biomass accumulation, leaching, volatilization and soil erosion were quantified using standard procedures. Soil N balance ranged from-10.7 to-18.1 kg N ha-1 for sole potato, 4.1 to 6.6 kg N ha-1 for intercropping and 2.9 to 22.3 kg N ha-1 for sole legumes. The intermediate range of polyphenol and lignin contents in intercropping enhanced N mineralization with peak N release of 8 to 9 kg N ha-1 matching with peak N uptake by potato (19.9 to 31.2 kg N ha-1). Nitrate was leached below the active root zone in sole potato cropping (4.2 to 46.6 kg N ha-1), a process that was diverged by the Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (

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Intercropping forage cactus genotypes with wood species in a semi‐arid environment

et al. 2022

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Forage cactus (Opuntia spp. and Nopalea spp.) is a crop tolerant to drought, high temperatures, and less fertile soils, which favors its cultivation in arid and semiarid regions and production of cladodes to animal feed. Intercropping may improve water use efficiency and increase agricultural production sustainability. The aim of this research was to evaluate the growth and yield of forage cactus genotypes intercropped with timber species under semi-arid conditions. Three forage cactus genotypes, erect prickly pear 'Orelha de Elefante Mexicana' [O. stricta (Haw.) Haw.], 'Miúda' [N. cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck: syn. O. cochenillifera (L.) Mill.], and 'Baiana' [N. cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck] in three cropping systems (monocropping; intercropped with Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.; and intercropped with Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) were studied. All species were irrigated with treated domestic effluent water. Plants were evaluated after 2 yr of cultivation. The forage cactus intercropped with timber species had lower cladode weight, dry matter yield, and lower carrying capacity than forage cactus in monocropped system regardless of genotype. These results suggest that timber species may inhibit the yield of forage cactus, and intercropping is not recommended. In addition, there was no significant difference in the performance of forage cactus when intercropping with M. caesalpiniifolia and P. juliflora. The P. juliflora had greater growth performance when compared with M. caesalpiniifolia intercropped with Miúda and Orelha de Elefante Mexicana. However, when intercropped with the Baiana, the growth of P. juliflora and M. caesalpiniifolia are similar to each other.

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Optimizing yield and economic returns of rain-fed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) through water conservation under potato-legume intercropping systems

Cited by 48 publications

References 31 publications

Intercropping Optimizes Soil Temperature and Increases Crop Water Productivity and Radiation Use Efficiency of Rainfed Potato

Intercropping Optimizes Soil Temperature and Increases Crop Water Productivity and Radiation Use Efficiency of Rainfed Potato

Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping

Intercropping forage cactus genotypes with wood species in a semi‐arid environment

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