Alley cropping and mulching with Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp.: effects on maize/weed competition
The potential of alley cropping systems to sustain a high productivity with low external inputs and the reduction of maize/weed competition through weed suppression in different alley cropping and sole-cropped mulched systems was studied in Costa Rica at CATIE. Data were recorded eight years after establishment of the experiment. Plant residues of Erythrina poeppigiana trees (10 t/ha dry matter) planted at 6 by 3 m reduced weed biomass by 52 percent, while Gliricidia sepium trees (12 t/ha dry matter) planted at 6 by 0,5 m reduced weed biomass by 28 percent, in comparison to controls. Erythrina had a considerable impact on grass weeds, while Gliricidia reduced the incidence of some dicot weeds. Weed competition significantly reduced maize yield in all systems. Nevertheless weed suppression contributed to the higher maize grain yield under Erythrina and Gliricidia alley cropping of 3,8 t per hectare as opposed to the unmulched control yield of 2,0 t per hectare.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
1994
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| Subjects: | ERYTHRINA POEPPIGIANA, GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM, ZEA MAYS, MALEZAS, COMPETENCIA BIOLOGICA, CULTIVO EN CALLEJONES, MATERIAL ORGANICO DE COBERTURA, SISTEMAS DE CULTIVO, CATIE, COSTA RICA, |
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