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Light Use, Water Uptake and Performance of Individual Components of a Sorghum/Groundnut Intercrop

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

S. N. Azam-Ali ,
R. B. Matthews ,
J. H. Williams  and
J. M. Peacock
S. N. Azam-Ali
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru PO, Andhra Pradesh, India and ‡ ODA Microclimatology Unit, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, England
R. B. Matthews
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru PO, Andhra Pradesh, India and ‡ ODA Microclimatology Unit, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, England
J. H. Williams
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru PO, Andhra Pradesh, India and ‡ ODA Microclimatology Unit, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, England
J. M. Peacock
Affiliation:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru PO, Andhra Pradesh, India and ‡ ODA Microclimatology Unit, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, LE12 5RD, England
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Summary

The productivity of each component of a sorghum/groundnut intercrop and its constituent sole crops is determined in terms of a ‘Crop Performance Ratio’ (CPR) defined as the productivity of an intercrop per unit area of ground compared with that expected from sole crops sown in the same proportions. The CPR allows productivity, intercepted radiation and seasonal transpiration to be compared so that conversion coefficients for radiation (e; g MJ−1) and dry matter/water ratios (q; g kg−1) can be calculated for each intercrop component and its constituent sole crops. In this experiment, CPR for total dry weight in the intercrop was 1.08 and that for reproductive yield was 1.27. These advantages in overall productivity and yield were typical of those reported elsewhere for sorghum/groundnut intercrops. The proportional increase in total dry matter in the intercrop was largely a result of its greater interception of radiation. The further advantage in reproductive yield was a consequence of an improved harvest index in the sorghum component of the intercrop (0.64) compared with that of its sole crop counterpart (0.55).

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , October 1990 , pp. 413 - 427
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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