INVESTIGADORES
MONZON Juan Pablo
artículos
Título:
Capture and use of water and radiation in summer intercrops in the south-east Pampas of Argentina
Autor/es:
COLL, L., A., CERRUDO, J.P., MONZON, F.H. ANDRADE
Revista:
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Referencias:
Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 vol. 134 p. 105 - 113
ISSN:
0378-4290
Resumen:
Intercrops are an alternative to intensify and diversify the agricultural systems in the south-east Pampas of Argentina. The aim of this study was to evaluate resource capture and resource use efficiency in
maizesoybean and sunflowersoybean intercrops and in their respective sole crops.Water and radiation
capture, biomass and grain production were measured for sole crops and intercrops.Water and radiation
productivities were estimated as the energy produced per unit of annual available resource. Comparisons
of intercrops with soybean sole crops were emphasized because current soybean expansion in the region
represents a threat to agricultural system sustainability.
Intercrops showed an increase in crop duration when compared to their sole counterparts.
Maizesoybean intercrop resulted in an improved radiation and water productivities compared with
soybean sole crops. Maize cultivated as sole crop attained the highest resource productivity. On the
other hand, resource productivity of sunflowersoybean intercrop was higher than or similar to its
corresponding sole crops.
The improvement in water productivity for intercrop compared with soybean sole crop was accounted
for by an increase in water capture efficiency and, also, by an increase in water use efficiency in the case
of maizesoybean intercrop.
The increase in radiation productivity for maizesoybean intercrop compared with soybean sole crop
was the result of an increase in radiation use efficiency and of a minor but significant increase in radiation
capture efficiency. Contrarily,the improvementin radiation productivity of sunflowersoybean intercrop
compared with sunflower or soybean sole crops was null or small.
Grain yield of intercropped sunflower and maize was 20% lower than yield of sole crops. Therefore,
yield attained by intercropping was mainly limited by a poor production of the soybean component. This
work provides eco-physiological basis to improve management practices of summer intercrops