Effect of maize density on shading of intercropped potato, soil temperature, yields and profitability
| MSI99P0082 | |
| Gowrea, B. Govinden, N. Ruhee, K. | |
| Effect of maize density on shading of intercropped potato, soil temperature, yields and profitability | |
| Autrey, L. J. C., Hunt,G. L. T., Govinden, N., Ferré, P. (eds)., Proceedings of the 2nd Triennial Meeting and Conference of the African Potato Association, Réduit, Mauritius, 23-27 July 1990 | |
| Book chapter | |
| 1991 | |
| p.135-143 | |
| Réduit, African Potato Association, MU | |
| En | |
| En Fr | |
| Potato production in Mauritius is limited to a period of six months by the warm temperatures prevailing over the rest of the year. Shading the potato crop with a suitable intercrop such as maize could provide a means of extending the potato growing season. Two trails were planted in August and repeated in October to study the effect on yield of potato of intercropping with maize at densities of 10,014, 20,833 and 31, 250 plants/ha corresponding to 17, 33 and 50 per cent of the optimum density of sole maize. Solar radiation incident on the potato was reduced by the 3 maize densities by 17 to 39 per cent when potato was planted in August and by 13 to 47 per cent when planted in October. In one trial in October, soil temperatures were reduced by intercropping with maize. RReductions were more significant at higher maize densities, and ranged from 0.8 to 2.2 °C at 5 and 10 cm depths. In August, potato yields were not affected by intercropping. On the other hand, high maize densities reduced potato yields significantly in October. Land Equivalent Ratios (LER) exceeded unity in all intercropped treatments and at both planting dates. With increasing maize densities, LER ranged from 1.33 to 1.74 in August and from 1.15 to 1.53 in October. Intercropping was more profitable than sole potato cropping in August, but not in October in spite of the LER exceeding unity in October. The discrepancy between LER and profitability arose because potato was much more profitable than maize. | |
| POTATOES MAIZE INTERCROPPING DIVERSIFICATION | |
| MAURITIUS | |
| Agricultural diversification | |
| Intercropping Potatoes/maize | |
| 1991-12-12 | |
| En | |
| Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute and University of Mauritius. School of Agriculture, Réduit MU | |
| LIB FC PATH | |
| CAT | |
| FC |