Intercropping of beet with salad rocket (Eruca sativa) using hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia) plus manure goat in loam argisol yellow red latosol

Abstract

The crop intercropping is a viable option for family farmers who grow in small spaces and need to take advantage of all the available area. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic viability of the intercropping of beet with salad rocket (arugula) under different amounts of Merremia aegyptia plus goat manure. The experiment was conducted at Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm, in the Alagoinha district, rural area of Mossoró-RN, from August to December 2016. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with treatments arranged in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme, with three repetitions. The first factor was the single beet and second intercropped cultivation of beet and arugula. The second factor was the amount of Merremia aegyptia plus goat manure (0.0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 kg m-2). For the sugar beet crop the following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, fresh leaf mass, commercial root yield and root dry mass. For arugula culture the following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, number of leaves per plant, yield, number of sauces and dry mass. The best agronomic performance of the beet and rocket intercropping was obtained in the amount of 4.5 kg m-2 of M. aegyptia beds and goat manure. The consortium presented an area ratio equivalent to over 1.0, with an average value of 1.81 in the amount of 4.5 kg m-2 of M. aegyptia flowerbed plus goat manure. The consortium contributed to better use of available resources without compromising the commercial quality of the vegetables