Abstract
The South African sugar industry recommends green manuring as a best management practice, but it can only be practised once every crop cycle (every 8-10 years). Intercropping was therefore investigated as a potential means of exploiting the benefits of green manuring over the entire sugarcane crop life. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of intercropping on cane yield, and to investigate the possibility of reducing inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs in the presence of a leguminous intercrop. Four trials, with soybean, cowpea and/or lupin intercrops, were conducted at sites in Paddock, Nkwaleni and Pongola. In total, nine crops were harvested from four trials. Different rates (0, 33, 67 and 100%) of the recommended N were applied to the cane. In seven of the nine crops harvested (78%), no significant yield differences existed between cane-only controls and cane grown with intercrops. The crop response to N was generally poor, with significant yield differences between the 0% and 100% N cane-only controls observed in only 44% of the crops harvested. Analyses of the results show that in most cases where a response to nitrogen was seen, a significant reduction in yield was noted due to intercropping. Economic analysis of one trial showed that growing a sugarcane monocrop made more economic sense than intercropping. Practical and management considerations involved with intercropping must also be taken into account when intercropping.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Seven of nine harvested crops had no significant cane yield difference between intercrops and cane-only controls.
Verbatim
e0“In seven of the nine crops harvested (78%), no significant yield differences existed between cane-only controls and cane grown with intercrops.”
t0“Intercropping in sugarcane: a practice worth pursuing?”
Claim · model-written summary
Only 44% of crops had significant yield differences between zero and full recommended nitrogen rates in cane-only controls.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“significant yield differences between the 0% and 100% N cane-only controls observed in only 44% of the crops harvested.”
t0“Intercropping in sugarcane: a practice worth pursuing?”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping significantly reduced yield in most cases where nitrogen response occurred.
- Taxon
- sugarcanet0
- Treatment
- intercroppinge0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Qualifier
- where a response to nitrogen was seene0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“in most cases where a response to nitrogen was seen, a significant reduction in yield was noted due to intercropping.”
t0“Intercropping in sugarcane: a practice worth pursuing?”
Claim · model-written summary
One trial found a sugarcane monocrop more economically favorable than intercropping.
Verbatim
e0“Economic analysis of one trial showed that growing a sugarcane monocrop made more economic sense than intercropping.”
t0“Intercropping in sugarcane: a practice worth pursuing?”
The same questions in other papers
intercropping · yield · Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane)Results differ
20 papers in the same direction as this paper · 67 in the opposite direction
- no effect
- positive
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84 papers more in this group
See all 88 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.