Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the soil chemical quality, productivity, and biological and economic efficiency of different intercropping arrangements with cotton, cowpea, maize, and sesame in agroecological properties in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Soil samples were collected from 24 farms in the municipalities of Choró (C), Massapê (M), Quixadá (Q) and Tauá (T), Ceará, Brazil, to assess soil chemical properties and in intercropping areas (IA). Among the chemical properties, the mean contents of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and available P, sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (t), and base saturation (V) were higher in the IA in relation to natural vegetation (NV), in all municipalities and depths, thus greater potential for distinguishing the systems. However, due to family and health problems, only 16 farms out of the initial 24 managed their areas until harvest. On these 16 farms, crop yields and biological and economic efficiency indices were determined in the IA. The land equivalent ratio was higher than 1 in nine of the 16 farms. The intercropping of maize, cowpea and cotton allowed a 31% increase in cowpea yields when compared to cowpea monocrop. The highest monetary advantages were observed in the four rows of maize and cowpea, sown in the same hole and four rows of cotton (US$ 2,755.77 ha−1) and one row of cowpea and maize in alternate holes and three rows of cotton (US$ 7,014.24 ha−1) arrangements.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping areas had higher mean soil base nutrient and fertility measures than natural vegetation.
- Taxon
- cotton
Gossypium hirsutumt0 - Outcome
- mean contents of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and available Pe0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- natural vegetation (NV)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“mean contents of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and available P, sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (t), and base saturation (V) were higher in the IA in relation to natural vegetation (NV), in all municipalities and depths”
t0“with cotton, cowpea, maize, and sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Land equivalent ratio exceeded one in nine of 16 farms.
- Taxon
- cottonGossypium hirsutumt0
- Outcome
- land equivalent ratioe0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 1e0
- Qualifier
- nine of the 16 farmse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The land equivalent ratio was higher than 1 in nine of the 16 farms”
t0“with cotton, cowpea, maize, and sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize, cowpea and cotton intercropping increased cowpea yield by 31% versus cowpea monoculture.
- Taxon
- cowpea
Vigna unguiculatae0 - Treatment
- intercropping of maize, cowpea and cottone0
- Outcome
- cowpea yieldse0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- 31%e0
- Comparator
- cowpea monocrope0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The intercropping of maize, cowpea and cotton allowed a 31% increase in cowpea yields when compared to cowpea monocrop”
Claim · model-written summary
The four-row maize and cowpea plus four-row cotton arrangement had a monetary advantage of US$ 2,755.77 ha−1.
- Taxon
- cottonGossypium hirsutumt0
- Treatment
- four rows of maize and cowpea, sown in the same hole and four rows of cottone0
- Outcome
- monetary advantagese0
- Value
- US$ 2,755.77 ha−1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest monetary advantages were observed in the four rows of maize and cowpea, sown in the same hole and four rows of cotton (US$ 2,755.77 ha−1)”
t0“with cotton, cowpea, maize, and sesame”
Claim · model-written summary
The alternate-hole cowpea and maize plus three-row cotton arrangement had a monetary advantage of US$ 7,014.24 ha−1.
- Taxon
- cottonGossypium hirsutumt0
- Treatment
- one row of cowpea and maize in alternate holes and three rows of cottone0
- Outcome
- monetary advantagese0
- Value
- US$ 7,014.24 ha−1e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The highest monetary advantages were observed in the four rows of maize and cowpea, sown in the same hole and four rows of cotton (US$ 2,755.77 ha−1) and one row of cowpea and maize in alternate holes and three rows of cotton (US$ 7,014.24 ha−1) arrangements”
t0“with cotton, cowpea, maize, and sesame”
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