If I were to design an inter-cropping system in the tropics with maize and a climbing legume species (Centrosema) in a less conventional way- that is - by suspending the legumes in mid-air above the maize field (covering the same surface area as the maize field), how would I go about doing this?
The reason for separating maize & Centrosema spatially is to avoid maize strangulation by the climbing legume. A climbing species was chosen over non-climbers as the climbing habit allows for vertical growth and hence higher biomass using less growing area (in this the climber would hang downwards by gravity). Also, there would be no need for land expansion to grow Centrosema separately.
The issue then, of course, becomes the shading effect of legumes on the maize field. However, if legumes were suspended high enough (further from the maize field), would the shading effect then decrease?
The closest I have come to figuring this out was to try understanding the umbra and penumbra effect. In the tropics, I would imagine that if the legumes were suspended far enough from maize, then enough sunlight should reach the below field from angles other than directly overhead the field? I have included a rough sketch to depict what I mean (attached).
The aim of the project is to design a theoretical cropping system, but naturally it should also be realistic. I would very much appreciate any thoughts on this.
My first impression is why not try out a cropping sequence which uses vertical spacing as well. Any provision of cover crops , in case , you wish to suspend legumes. Please always keep in mind the soil health related issue , which could be possible with atleast one non-cereal crop in a given cropping sequence. I don't see any consideration about using minimum dataset to evaluate sustainabity of a cropping sequence...
Dear Stephanie, In regards to tropical intercropping of maize and legumes consider mucuna called fertilizer bean when planted 40 days after maize it does not compete yet it has sufficient bnf to provide for subsequent crops of maize it also has been weed control capacity. Secondly the use of desmodium species can not only provide nitrogen but they are able to eliminate witch weed parasite and are not competitors to maize if planted right. The best part they repel stem borers and with a border of napier grass the push pull strategies controls both stem borers and witchweed. Since these are proven system you might want to use these as controls with centrosema, velvetbean mucuna deerigiana, and desmodium species and the maize only controls might use both susceptible and tolerant varieties to witchweed a prime constraint in Africa. Good Luck with your studies.
Thank you both for your inputs.
Anoop Kumar Srivastava, a crop rotation system is not considered in this inter-cropping design as I am only interested in growing a legume at the same time as maize. The reason for this, is that farmers (in this case those in Thailand), prefer to grow a crop that has direct economical benefits rather than forage/plants for green manure during the fallow period (if it were to be a legume, they would prefer it to be a consumable legume). Residues from pulses can be used as green manure, but as several studies have shown, the removal of seed pods also removes a considerable amount of N that could otherwise have been returned to soil. I should have mentioned that the ground cover will be provided with a non-climbing legume species (e.g. Macroptilium) as to not lose the benefits of protection against soil erosion and weed suppression, etc. This project's main focus is on infrastructure design and is not a comparative experiment hence I am not making a comparison between nitrogen fixing efficiency of different legume species or their contribution as fertiliser to crops like maize. As I mentioned, this is a 'theoretical' design, which, without execution in field, the real outcome, such as effect on maize yield will never be known. I am interested in the adjustments of infrastructure design (in this case height of Centrosema suspension) rather than using other data to evaluate sustainability of various cropping systems.
Paul Reed Hepperly thank you for your suggestions. The species you have mentioned could provide ground cover, perhaps better than my initial Macroptilium, but that is not really the scope of this project.
Thank you both again for taking the time to comment and provide feedback.
Hi!
not that I'd be in any way anexpert in that field - but that's quite an interesting topic. I lately came across a croppingsystem that once was widely spread in the americas. Using the 'Milpa' , ancient cultures very successfully grew maize & beens together with squash and sunflower (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milpa, another nice description can be found in the book 'The omnivores dilemma' by Michael Pollan as well as similar systems described in '1493' by Charles C. Mann).
The shading effect thereby seemed to be rather neglectible as parameter. Apparently, the productivity of the combined crops easily surpasses that of any of the crops grown by themselves - not to speak of the benfits for soil-fertility / insect pest - control. Especially in Africa I could picture this (indeed more labor intensive approach) a promissing setting for the low-tech settings in which they might be tested.
Just in case you didn't come across that system yet.
Cheers,
Michael
Wow, how interesting! I wonder if the other crops (non maize & beans) have some kind of suppressing effects on legumes' strangulation growth? But from the first glimpse it seems the beans are growing quite freely. I will look into it, thank you for your suggestion.
On another matter - I've recently done a master's report on your paper 'Jasmonoyl-L-Isoleucine Coordinates Metabolic Networks required for anthesis and floral attractant emission in wild Tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata)'.
I've no doubt learned many new & interesting things. Keep up the great work!
Cheers,
Stephanie
I'm glad to hear you like the article !
...and like that its at least one more person who actually read it!
Indeed there opefully soon there'll be a similar sized & interesting follow up study.
Back to your initial question, using Centrosema above the core-crops seems pretty demanding when considering the need of istructural support, watering - and weather-vulnerability of these installations (strong winds / storms...). But I'm not aware of resistence features against strangulation in any crop plant. I guess adapting the germinating time frame could help since the other plants should be bigger 7 smaller than already.
However an alternative & unconventionell approach still making use of the nodulation effect of legumes exists in south america and Madagascar. Maybe you also heard already of Inga alley cropping? (Inga is genus of nitrogen-fixing tree species - with super interesting secondary metabolites - but just look on this page- simply amazing work! http://www.ingafoundation.org/ ) Since your projects seem to focuss on tropical south-east-asia, I'v no doubt at all that theer shoul be a suitable native legume species available providing similar benefits!
Anyways, even if I don't work in this topic, I think helping to improve agricultural techniques - and habits - especially for complete groups who are 'left behind' by the rest of society its crucially important. And based on the anthropological impact we all already cause - essential.
Cheers,
Michael
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