Volume 67, August 2016, Pages 458–465
Highlights
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- Manipulation of population densities can increase bio-agro-economic returns in intercropping.
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- Bivariate analysis of variance and data envelopment are effective in discriminating returns.
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- The bio-agro-competition of vegetables intercropping can be translated in economic efficiency.
Abstract
The
efficiency of an intercropping system depends mainly on the cropping
system and on the crops, which should complement each other. However,
the choice of crops and factors of production are extremely important
for maximizing the advantages of intercropping, which, in turn, means
maximizing the bio-agro-economic performance of the system. The present
study sought to assess, based on appropriate indexes and indicators and
using univariate and bivariate analysis, the agronomic/biological and
economic returns from a system in which salad rocket was intercropped
with carrot at different population densities and one of spontaneous
species of the semi-arid region of Brazil, namely hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia
L.), was used as green manure. The population densities of both the
crops were maintained at 40%, 60%, 80%, or 100% of the recommended
population for a sole crop (RPSC). The following values were recorded or
calculated: green biomass of rocket, biomass of carrot roots,
aggressivity indexes, competitive ratio, land equivalent ratio,
productive efficiency index, canonical variable score, and four economic
indicators, namely gross and net returns, rate of return, and net
profit margin. The most effective combination was carrot at 40% of its
RPSC intercropped with rocket at 100% of its RPSC with hairy woodrose as
green manure because the combination resulted in the highest values of
land equivalent ratio (1.72), productive efficiency index (0.91),
canonical variable score (1.68), gross returns (R$ 41,186.91 ha−1), net returns (R$ 18,621.64 ha−1),
rate of return (1.84), and net profit margin (52.77%), making it a
highly profitable combination for the north-eastern semi-arid region of
Brazil. The most effective indicators of economic value were yield and
the rate of return.
Keywords
- Daucus carota;
- Eruca sativa;
- Data envelopment analysis;
- Merremia aegyptia;
- Multivariate analysis;
- Competition and agronomic/biological indexes
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