Abstract
SUMMARY Intercropping is a common practice in Africa, but the advantage compared to sole cropping depends on the crop plants and local agro-ecological conditions. The potential of intercropping maize ( Zea mays ) or sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) with watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) was tested in two on-farm trials in southern Mozambique under semi-arid conditions in an area with low and unpredictable rainfall. In the first experiment, plant density, yield and monetary value of sole and intercropping plots of maize with watermelon were determined in 17 farmers' fields in an area where all crops developed to maturity and harvest. There was a significant reduction in yield of both maize (28.8%) and watermelon (57.8%) in the intercrop compared with the sole crop yields. However, the mean land equivalent ratio of 1.13 for yield showed that intercropping had advantages as, on average, an area planted with sole crops would require 13% more land than an intercrop production to generate the same outcome. In the second experiment, carried out in another area with 16 farmers' fields, drought was more pronounced and only watermelon developed to maturity. Intercroppings with maize and sorghum resulted in 70% and 69% yield reduction, respectively. In conclusion, watermelon is a good companion crop for intercropping with cereals to mitigate the risk of total crop failure due to drought.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Maize intercrop yield fell 28.8% versus sole crop.
- Treatment
- intercrope0
- Outcome
- yield of both maizee0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- 28.8%e0
- Comparator
- sole crope0
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“significant reduction in yield of both maize (28.8%) and watermelon (57.8%) in the intercrop compared with the sole crop yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Watermelon intercrop yield fell 57.8% versus sole crop.
- Taxon
- watermelon
Citrullus lanatuse0 - Treatment
- intercrope0
- Outcome
- yield of both maize (28.8%) and watermelone0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- 57.8%e0
- Comparator
- sole crope0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“significant reduction in yield of both maize (28.8%) and watermelon (57.8%) in the intercrop compared with the sole crop yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean land equivalent ratio was 1.13.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- land equivalent ratioe0
- Value
- 1.13e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“WATERMELON”
e0“mean land equivalent ratio of 1.13 for yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Equivalent sole cropping would require 13% more land.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- lande0
- Direction
- moree0
- Value
- 13%e0
- Comparator
- intercrop productione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“WATERMELON”
e0“sole crops would require 13% more land than an intercrop production to generate the same outcome”
Claim · model-written summary
In the drier trial only watermelon matured.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatuse0
- Outcome
- developed to maturitye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“only watermelon developed to maturity”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize intercropping reduced watermelon yield 70% in the drier trial.
- Taxon
- WATERMELONCitrullus lanatust0
- Treatment
- Intercroppings with maizee0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- 70%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“WATERMELON”
e0“Intercroppings with maize and sorghum resulted in 70% and 69% yield reduction, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sorghum intercropping reduced watermelon yield 69% in the drier trial.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“WATERMELON”
e0“Intercroppings with maize and sorghum resulted in 70% and 69% yield reduction, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors recommend watermelon as cereal intercrop to mitigate total crop failure under drought.
- Taxon
- watermelonCitrullus lanatuse0
- Outcome
- intercropping with cereals to mitigate the risk of total crop failure due to droughte0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“watermelon is a good companion crop for intercropping with cereals to mitigate the risk of total crop failure due to drought”
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