Vegetable and food crop production with micro climate modification

Abstract

Vegetable and food crops generally require optimum light intensity so that most of these plants are cultivated monoculture. This research has tried to produce food and vegetable crops in the planting system with a perennial crop. This might be a solution to land limitations, and opportunity modification for the cultivation of food crops and vegetables in sites that tend to be shaded and less light intensity. This research was carried out in Nokilalaki Subdistrict which is directly bordered with the conservation area, i.e. Lore Lindu National Park. The study was designed in factorial design method of randomized block design, that consists of two factors, such as food crop species (tomatoes, chillies, sweet potatoes, taro) and pruning degrees of perennial crops (low pruning/25% of light intensity, moderate pruning/50% of light intensity, and heavy pruning/75% of light intensity. The results showed that the highest crop production was provided on sweet potatoes yield of 18.5 tons ha−1 at 50% of light intensity, but was not significant different in 75% of light intensity (17.1 tons ha−1). Tomato and taro yield was not significantly different between all light intensity. So tomatoes and taro might be introduced into a variety of microclimate conditions.