Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate combinations of coriander and salad rocket cultivars in bicropping systems intercropped with carrot cultivars in strips under the conditions of Mossoró-RN. The work was conducted at the Experimental Farm Rafael Fernandes from July to December 2014. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications and treatments arranged in a factorial design with additional treatments of type 2 x 2 x 2 + 2. The treatments consisted of the combinations of two coriander cultivars (Verdão and Português) and two rocket cultivars (Cultivada and Folha Larga), intercropped with two carrot cultivars (Brasília and Esplanada) plus two additional treatments, where the first are the cultivars in monocropping and the second the types of cropping (single and intercropped). We evaluated fresh and dry shoot mass in coriander and rocket and fresh and dry shoot mass as well as dry root mass, commercial and total root productivity, and classified root productivity in carrot. In the intercropping systems we evaluated land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, and score of the canonical variable, besides the indicators of economic efficiency (gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin). Highest agroeconomic efficiency in intercropping systems was achieved with the combination of the coriander cultivar 'Verdão' and the rocket cultivars 'Folha Larga' or 'Cultivada' as well as the carrot cultivars 'Brasília' or 'Esplanada'. Regardless of the tested cultivar combinations, systems with coriander and salad rocket intercropped with carrot showed higher efficiency than monocropping systems.
Highlights
Intercropping systems, simultaneous cropping systems, or polycultures are production cropping systems which grow more than one crop per unit area
There was a significant difference between rocket cultivars in fresh and dry shoot mass yields of the coriander in intercropping with rocket and carrot, with the cultivar Folha Larga standing out of the Cultivada (Table 1)
We found a significant difference in mean root productivity between carrot cultivars in monocropping, with higher values for the Brasilia cultivar compared to Esplanada (Table 5)
Summary
Intercropping systems, simultaneous cropping systems, or polycultures are production cropping systems which grow more than one crop per unit area. Intercropping systems make use of synergistic effect or offset the impact of one culture on other cultures, thereby enabling higher yields (REZENDE et al, 2006); when performed in agroecological molds, they present several advantages in production, nutritional, economic, and environmental aspects (OLIVEIRA et al, 2004). This agrosystem offers greater productivity, economic, and biological stability as well as a more efficient use of available resources such as soil, water, light, and nutrients (SEDIYAMA; SANTOS; LIMA, 2014). As different crops occupy different ecological niches, they may maximize light use and nutrient absorption (OLIVEIRA et al, 2004)
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