INTERCROPPING OF CARROT X COWPEA-VEGETABLES: EVALUATION OF CULTIVAR COMBINATIONS FERTILIZED WITH ROOSTERTREE

Maiele Leandro Da Silva,Aurélio Paes Barros Júnior,Jailma Suerda Silva De Lima,Vânia Christina Nascimento Porto,Francisco Bezerra Neto,Arnaldo Pantoja Da Costa

doi:10.1590/1983-21252017v30n311rc

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate combinations of cowpea-vegetable cultivars with carrot cultivars in a strip-intercropping system fertilized with roostertree. The work was conducted at the Experimental Farm "Rafael Fernandes" of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) during September 2013 to March 2014. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications and treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 2 scheme, resulting from the combination of four cowpea -vegetable cultivars (BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Cauamé, BRS Guariba and BRS Itaim) with two carrot cultivars (Brasilia and Alvorada). The characteristics evaluated in cowpea-vegetables were: number of green pods per area, productivity and dry weight of green pods, number of grains per pod, productivity of grains, weight of 100 grains, and dry weight of green grains. In the carrot cultivars, we evaluated total, commercial, and classified productivity of roots. The cultivar combinations were evaluated in terms of land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, score of the canonical variable, as well as indicators of gross and net income, rate of return, profit margin, and modified monetary advantage. The intercropping system using the cultivars BRS Guariba (cowpea) and Alvorada (carrot) achieved highest agronomic/biological efficiency. Highest economic efficiency was achieved with the combination BRS Tumucumaque (cowpea) and Brasilia (carrot).

Highlights

Intercropping of vegetables is a common practice in the northeast of Brazil; especially in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and generally increases yields and profits
Lettuce cultivars and arugula were intercropped with carrot, and the combination of the lettuce cultivar 'Tainá' with the arugula cultivar 'Cultivada' or 'Folha Larga' resulted in highest agronomic and economic efficiency (BEZERRA NETO et al, 2012)
Significant differences between cowpea-vegetable cultivars in sole crops were recorded for the number of green grains per pod and productivity of green pods, with the cultivars BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Guariba, and BRS Cauamé yielding higher values than BRS Itaim for the number of green grains and BRS Tumucumaque obtaining highest productivity of green grains (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Intercropping of vegetables is a common practice in the northeast of Brazil; especially in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, and generally increases yields and profits. It allows maximum use of environmental resources and promotes ecological balance (MONTEZANO, PEIL, 2006). It is crucial to select crops which exert complementarity to some extent. This is possible when the species have different ecological niches and can maximize light use and the absorption of water and nutrients (GRANGEIRO et al, 2007). Lettuce cultivars and arugula were intercropped with carrot, and the combination of the lettuce cultivar 'Tainá' with the arugula cultivar 'Cultivada' or 'Folha Larga' resulted in highest agronomic and economic efficiency (BEZERRA NETO et al, 2012)

Objectives

Methods

Results