Abstract

Sugarcane (Sacharum officinarum L.) monocropping has had a great socio-economic and environmental impact in Brazil, and agroforestry systems have been considered as an alternative for more sustainable production; however, there is a lack of field research under such conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth rates, radiation use efficiency and yield traits in sugarcane cultivated in the understory of Aleurites fordii, in two agroforestry arrangements and monocropping systems. A field experiment was conducted from July 2015 to June 2016 in the city of Frederico Westphalen, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The radiation use efficiency, assimilate partitioning, leaf area index, absolute growth rate, net assimilation rate, number of tillers, plant height, % of intercepted solar radiation, extinction coefficient, and yield in each system was evaluated. In agroforestry systems, the dynamic interactions between multiple plant species change with the time and can result in unique microclimates. The use of agroforestry systems in 12 x 12m arrangements should be prioritized because it enables greater yields and radiation availability in the understory. This study sought to provide new sustainable alternatives for farmers in order to increase the diversification of the rural property and maintain the preservation of existing agroecosystems.

Highlights

  • One of the greatest national and global challenges is to generate a balance between crop production objectives

  • The air temperature during the sugarcane crop cycle ranged from 6.3oC to 31.0oC, with an average temperature of 19.2oC; the flux of global solar radiation was 15.89 MJ.m-2.dia-1 on average, with a variation of 1.98 to 33.03 MJ.m-2.dia-1; the rainfall accumulated during the crop cycle was 2587.5mm (Figure 2)

  • The greatest radiation use efficiency of sugarcane was obtained by the isolated system (2.28 g MJ-1)

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Summary

Introduction

One of the greatest national and global challenges is to generate a balance between crop production objectives. These systems consist of integrated land uses, for example, land used for forestry purposes, crop production, and/or raising livestock. Such systems provide clear agro-ecological advantages over systems in which only one crop is grown (Brooker et al 2014). Advantages include higher production per unit of land (Zhang et al 2007, Li et al 2013), greater resource-use efficiencies of water and nutrients (Vandermeer 1989, 2011), greater carbon sequestration in the soil (Makumba et al 2006, Cong et al 2014), and an increased input of organic matter, which has been shown to improve chemical, physical and biological properties of soil (Tracy and Zhang 2008, Salton et al 2013). Despite the great potential of intercropping, little research has been carried out to determine the traits of cultivated species which drive the positive effects of intercropping systems

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