Abstract

SANCHEZ-OLAYA, Diana María; BAUTISTA-BOHORQUEZ, Daniela Fernanda  and  CABRERA-PARRA, Karla Vanessa. Equivalent land use and growth rates and physiological efficiency in intercropped cassava, peanut and corn. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2024, vol.27, n.2, e2603.  Epub Dec 06, 2024. ISSN 0123-4226.  https://doi.org/10.31910/rudca.v27.n2.2024.2603.

Intercropping offers significant benefits for agriculture by fixing nitrogen, protecting against pests and diseases, and optimizing production. In this sense, the effect of intercropping and uni-cultivation of cassava, peanut, and corn on growth rates and equivalent land use (ELU) was analyzed. The results showed that cassava presented a higher absolute growth rate in intercropping compared to uni-cultivation at 12, 24, and 36 weeks after planting (WAP). On the other hand, peanut showed the highest values of relative growth rate at 4WAP and decreased over time. As for corn, uni-cultivation had a higher net assimilation rate from 4 WAP to 12 WAP. In terms of ELU, the maize-cassava intercropping system was the most efficient, with a value of 1.30, followed by the intercropping of cassava, peanut, and maize with 1.24, indicating optimal land use and higher crop production; in contrast, the intercropping of peanut and maize was the least efficient, with 0.59, a value lower than the ELU of the uni-cultivars. The intercropping of cassava, peanut, and maize has the potential to stimulate growth, improve physiological efficiency, and optimize land use compared to uni-cultivation, provided it is properly planned to take advantage of beneficial interactions between species.

Keywords : Crop yield; Cropping systems; Food security; Sustainable agriculture; Use efficiency.

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