The effects of spatial arrangement and density on agronomic efficiency, yield and yield components, dry matter partitioning and growth of an annual cotton/cowpea/maize intercrop were examined in 1990 and 1991 in Tucson, Arizona. The 1990 experiment consisted of four spatial arrangements crossed with four densities of cowpea and maize in a complete factorial design. The 1991 experiment consisted of two densities of cowpea and maize selected from the 1990 experiment in the best spatial arrangement crossed with five densities of cotton in a complete factorial design. A land use efficiency of 12% (or a land equivalent ratio of 1.12) was obtained in the spatial arrangement of single rows of cowpea and maize between singles rows of cotton, whereas a land use efficiency of 11% was obtained for cowpea and maize at a combined density of 50,000 plants/ha intercropped with cotton at a density of 50,000 plants/ha. Maize provided a greater contribution to the land use efficiency than either cotton or cowpea. Cotton yield was highest in the spatial arrangement of single rows of cowpea and maize between single rows of cotton. For the two food crops, cowpea yield was highest in the spatial arrangements in which cowpea and maize were grown in different rows between rows of cotton, whereas maize yield was highest in the spatial arrangements in which cowpea and maize were grown in the same rows between rows of cotton. Cotton fiber quality was not influenced by spatial arrangement, cowpea/maize density, and cotton density. Number of cowpea pods was affected by spatial arrangement in a manner similar to cowpea yield. Number of maize ears increased as cowpea/maize density increased, whereas number of kernels/ear, weight of 100 kernels and length of kernel rows decreased as cowpea/maize density increased. Dry matter accumulation in leaves, stems, and fruits of cotton and cowpea was greatest in the spatial arrangements in which cowpea and maize were grown in different rows between rows of cotton. Weekly cotton growth rate increased as cotton density increased from 39 to 74 days after sowing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/186205 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Neto, Francisco Bezerra. |
| Contributors | Robichaux, Robert H., Taylor, B. Brooks, Ottman, Michael J., Ffolliott, Peter F., Lopes, Vicente L. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
Page generated in 0.0021 seconds