Abstract
Introduction: Intercropping involves growing more than one crop in the same field at the same time. Intercropping increase diversity in the cropping system and enhance the utilization of resources such as light, heat and water. This practice can also help to suppress weeds and increase the likelihood of being able to reduce herbicide use in the cropping system. Alternatively, in organic systems where herbicides are not used, intercropping can reduce the yield loss potential and provide stability in the system. In recent years, native cotton growers in Khorasan region, especially in Torbat-e Jam region, using the intercropping of cotton-fodder beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris L.), while facilitating the growth of fodder beet plant providing forage for livestock and increasing land income in the cotton crop. Placement of fodder beet plants in or between rows of cotton cultivation accelerates the conquest of space and resources compared to cotton monoculture. Little information is available on the cultivation of fodder beet - cotton intercropping and its effects on the yield of both plants, as well as the potential of this crop system in weed control. Therefore, this experiment was designed with the aim of the effect of cotton- fodder beet intercropping on weed control and evaluation of intercropping and competitive indices in Mashhad region.Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the effect of cotton-fodder beet intercropping on weed suppression, a split factorial experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad research farm. Treatments include intercropping pattern at two levels of inter-row and intra-row intercropping and the ratio of cotton-fodder beet substitution intercropping at five levels including 75: 25, 50: 50, 25: 75 and monoculture of cotton and fodder beet as the main factor and weed interference at two levels including weeding and non-weeding throughout the weed season as a secondary factor. Land equivalent ratio for cotton, land equivalent ratio for fodder beet, total land equivalent ratio , actual yield loss for cotton, actual yield loss for fodder beet, total actual yield loss, relative value total for cotton, relative crowding coefficient for cotton, relative crowding coefficient for fodder beet, total relative crowding coefficient, aggressivity, competitive ratio for cotton, and competitive ratio for fodder beet were the indices which calculated and used as a basis for the evaluation of cotton – fodder beet intercropping.Analysis of variance was performed using generalized linear models through GLMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4 software environment. The effect of three factors: intercropping pattern, intercropping ratio and weed interference and their interaction with each other were considered as fixed effects and block and block effect, mixed intercropping pattern, intercropping ratio and total error were considered as random variables in the model. Comparison of means of the simple effects of factors and their interaction were performed using the least squares mean comparison method in the same procedure.Results and Discussion: The results showed that the effect of intercropping pattern and intercropping proportion on total weed density was not significant, but was significant on total dry weight of weeds, although it was still not significant compared to monoculture of cotton. Accordingly, at a 25: 75 crop proportion of cotton - fodder beet, the dry weight of weeds was lower than other intercropping proportion. Also, the effect of intercropping pattern on both crop traits was not significant, but the ratio of intercropping on cotton and fodder beet traits was significant. In terms of interference or non-interference of weeds, at least 50% reduction in cotton lint yield and 83% reduction in fodder beet root yield was observed in intercropping conditions, compared to monoculture of each plant. The two indices of land equivalent ratio and actual yield loss showed the superiority of cotton monoculture over intercropping, but the relative value total index expressed the superiority of cotton-fodder beet intercropping over cotton monoculture. So that intercropping of cotton-fodder beet with a ratio of 75:25, in the presence and absence of weeds, the relative value total increased by 2.5 and 8.6 times, respectively, of cotton monoculture. Competitive indices including relative crowding coefficient, competition ratio and aggressivity index showed that fodder beet has higher competitive power than cotton. In general, the results of this experiment showed that cotton-beet forage intercropping, although it had no significant effect on weed control, is still recommended in terms of mixed crop evaluation indicators.Conclusion: In general, the results of this experiment showed that the cotton-fodder beet intercropping, as replacement pattern, had no significant effect on weed control, and considering that it was suitable only in terms of one of the evaluation indices (relative value total), it is not generally recommendable.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping pattern and proportion did not significantly affect total weed density.
- Taxon
- Cotton-Fodder Beett0
- Treatment
- intercropping pattern and intercropping proportione0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- total weed densitye0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“the effect of intercropping pattern and intercropping proportion on total weed density was not significant”
t0“Cotton-Fodder Beet Intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping pattern and proportion significantly affected total weed dry weight, but not relative to cotton monoculture.
- Taxon
- Cotton-Fodder Beett0
- Treatment
- intercropping pattern and intercropping proportione1
- Interactor
- weedse0weed
- Outcome
- total dry weight of weedse0
- Comparator
- monoculture of cottone0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“was significant on total dry weight of weeds, although it was still not significant compared to monoculture of cotton.”
e1“intercropping pattern and intercropping proportion on total weed density”
t0“Cotton-Fodder Beet Intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
At a 25:75 cotton to fodder beet ratio, weed dry weight was lower than at other intercropping ratios.
Verbatim
e0“at a 25: 75 crop proportion of cotton - fodder beet, the dry weight of weeds was lower than other intercropping proportion.”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping pattern had no significant effect on crop traits.
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“the effect of intercropping pattern on both crop traits was not significant”
t0“Cotton-Fodder Beet Intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping ratio significantly affected cotton and fodder beet traits.
- Taxon
- cotton and fodder beete0
- Treatment
- ratio of intercroppinge0
- Outcome
- cotton and fodder beet traitse0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Verbatim
e0“the ratio of intercropping on cotton and fodder beet traits was significant.”
Claim · model-written summary
Cotton lint yield was reduced by at least 50% under intercropping relative to cotton monoculture under weed interference or its absence.
- Taxon
- cotton
Gossypium hirsutume0 - Treatment
- intercropping conditionse0
- Interactor
- weedse0weed
- Outcome
- cotton lint yielde0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- at least 50%e0
- Comparator
- monoculture of each plante0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In terms of interference or non-interference of weeds, at least 50% reduction in cotton lint yield and 83% reduction in fodder beet root yield was observed in intercropping conditions, compared to monoculture of each plant.”
Claim · model-written summary
Fodder beet root yield was reduced by 83% under intercropping relative to its monoculture.
Verbatim
e0“In terms of interference or non-interference of weeds, at least 50% reduction in cotton lint yield and 83% reduction in fodder beet root yield was observed in intercropping conditions, compared to monoculture of each plant.”
Claim · model-written summary
Land equivalent ratio and actual yield loss indices favored cotton monoculture over intercropping.
- Taxon
- cottonGossypium hirsutume0
- Outcome
- land equivalent ratio and actual yield losse0
- Direction
- superioritye0
- Comparator
- intercroppinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The two indices of land equivalent ratio and actual yield loss showed the superiority of cotton monoculture over intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
Relative value total favored intercropping over cotton monoculture.
Verbatim
e0“the relative value total index expressed the superiority of cotton-fodder beet intercropping over cotton monoculture.”
Claim · model-written summary
At a 75:25 ratio with weeds, intercropping relative value total was 2.5 times cotton monoculture.
Verbatim
e0“intercropping of cotton-fodder beet with a ratio of 75:25, in the presence and absence of weeds, the relative value total increased by 2.5 and 8.6 times, respectively, of cotton monoculture.”
Claim · model-written summary
At a 75:25 ratio without weeds, intercropping relative value total was 8.6 times cotton monoculture.
Verbatim
e0“intercropping of cotton-fodder beet with a ratio of 75:25, in the presence and absence of weeds, the relative value total increased by 2.5 and 8.6 times, respectively, of cotton monoculture.”
Claim · model-written summary
Competitive indices indicated that fodder beet had higher competitive power than cotton.
Verbatim
e0“Competitive indices including relative crowding coefficient, competition ratio and aggressivity index showed that fodder beet has higher competitive power than cotton.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors ultimately did not generally recommend replacement cotton-fodder beet intercropping.
Verbatim
e0“the cotton-fodder beet intercropping, as replacement pattern, had no significant effect on weed control, and considering that it was suitable only in terms of one of the evaluation indices (relative value total), it is not generally recommendable.”
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See all 21 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.