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Competition, production efficiency and yield stability of finger millet and legume additive design intercropping

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2020

Yayeh Bitew Open the ORCID record for Yayeh Bitew [Opens in a new window] ,
Getachew Alemayehu Open the ORCID record for Getachew Alemayehu [Opens in a new window] ,
Enyew Adgo Open the ORCID record for Enyew Adgo [Opens in a new window]  and
Alemayehu Assefa Open the ORCID record for Alemayehu Assefa [Opens in a new window]
Yayeh Bitew*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 5501, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Crop Research Section, Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Getachew Alemayehu
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 5501, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Enyew Adgo
Affiliation:
Department of soil and Neutral Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 5501, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Alemayehu Assefa
Affiliation:
Crop Research Section, Amhara Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
*
Author for correspondence: Yayeh Bitew, E-mail: yayehbitew@gmail.com
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Abstract

Currently, the unchecked increase in human population results in increased demand for agricultural lands. Growing two or more crops simultaneously is one of the mechanisms to reduce this problem. A field experiment was conducted in northwestern Ethiopia during 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Two legume crops [haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and lupine (Lupinus angustifolius)] were intercropped with finger millet (Eleusine coracana) using two intercrop planting methods (row and mixture) and three finger millet-legume planting ratios (100.0%:75.0%, 100.0%:50.0% and 100.0%:25.0% of the respective recommended seed rate of sole crops). Two sole crop finger millets (planted in rows and broadcast) and two sole legume crops (haricot bean and lupine) were included as checks. The experiment comprised a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated intercropped finger millet and total land output yield from finger millet-haricot bean row intercropping at a 100:50 planting ratio and sole finger millet planted in a row improved better yield stability. Finger millet-haricot bean row intercropping at a 100:50 planting ratio also resulted in higher grain yields of the component crops, area time equivalent ratio (1.34), relative production (38.1%) and economic (314.0%) efficiencies with a relatively lower component crop competitive ratio. Thus, this cropping system offered increased productivity and economic return and is a viable option for increasing household food security.

Keywords

Mixed intercroppingproduction efficiencyrow intercroppingyield stability
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 108 - 119
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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