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Last Update: 05. June 2008
Description: Create concepts for intercropping and determine suitable plants for suppression of weeds, nitrogen fixation and extra yield of vegetables or fruits.
| | | Intercropping with maize and dry rice at a plantation in Lao PDR | Intercropping with papaya at a plantation in Thailand | | Pueraria in an intercropping system with oil palm for suppression of weeds |
Status of work: - Information on suitable plants for intercropping was researched and tests on fields have begun.
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Program Leader: | | | Assistants: | | | Involved agencies: | None at present | Funding agencies: | No contractual arrangements so far |
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At Jatropha plantations significant seed yield cannot be expected during the first two years. Since the crop is new for them, farmers often lose motivation in taking care of the new plantations. Experience shows that intercropping (cultivation of more than one crop in the same field) could change this. If well-known crops are integrated in Jatropha farming systems, farmers take better care of the plantation and the first, unproductive years of Jatropha plantations can be bridged over. Even when plantations are at a productive stage, intercropping can still be used. Further positive aspects of intercropping are: - Dependence on one crop only can be avoided (spread of risk);
- Much greater flexibility in the distribution of labour;
- Possibility to recover investment in a much shorter period of time.
The following are examples of crops for intercropping: - Papaya;
- Ground nut;
- Vegetables, such as red and green peppers, tomatoes, water melon, etc.;
- Maize.
Another purpose of intercropping is the suppression of weeds on the field and the reduction of evapotranspiration of the soil.
It was observed in many plantations that weeding was not performed properly and an infestation of weeds occurred. Since mechanical weeding is not available in most places and costs are too high, intercropping represents a convenient way to suppress weeds. For this purpose, fast growing and soil-covering plants should be selected and tested in the test environment. Plants should cover the soil with leaves as soon as possible so that weeds are not allowed to grow.
This means that the primary aim of this type of intercropping is to reduce the workload at the plantation. The following plants are examples for intercropping aiming at weed suppression: - Gourd;
- Pueraria;
- Pumpkin;
- Watermelon.
At the LIRE test fields, some intercropping crops are tested together with Jatropha curcas L. to observe possible interactions with Jatropha plants and weeds. Currently, LIRE is testing cantaloupe, pumpkin, gourd and different herbs in a small scale intercropping system with Jatropha curcas L. |
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