The associated Planting among banana (Musa acuminata cv. Big it Sleeps) and

Luis Mauro Santos Silva

In tropical regions, intensive banana (Musa accuminata) monocropping has severe agronomic and environmental impacts, and the sustainability of this production is actually highly compromised. Yield reductions are principally due to the decrease of soil fertility and root systems damages by sod fungus and nematodes. Several alternatives actually aim to improve sustainable banana cropping systems. Among them, the cultivation of banana in cover-cropping systems with legumes is a promising one. The development of such systems, however, mainly depends on me knowledge and control of how the mixed component crop competes and affects the production of the principal banana crop. The goal of this study is to estimate the functioning of the banana canavalia ensiformis cover-crop system in field conditions Canavalia is an annual legume that is supposed to have nematode control properties. In this study, however, we focus only on the capacity of banana to perform in such cropping systems, under competition for environmental resources. It is a prerequisite to the development of further investigations uppon bio-control mechanisms that could be managed in integrated protection systems. An analysis of the elaboration of yield components during the vegetative phase of the growing cycle of the banana crop was performed: it is during that phase that the potential yield (number of fruits and fruit filling) is determined, and it is assumed that legume competition can affect yield elaboration. Three treatments were carried out: (i) BPO : banana pure crop, (ii) BA0 simultaneous mixed banana-canavalia, (iii) BA60: -mixed banana-canavalia with banana planted 2 months after canavalia. Growth and development parameter were registered weekly by non destructive methods (leaf area, leaf phenology, stipe height and diameter for banana, and canopy extension for canavalia). Destructive sampling were carried out twice a month to determine above ground dry matter (DM) and mineral composition of banana in the different treatments. In addition to this agronomical evaluation, we developed a banana-intercropped modal adapted from the STICS model for validation and scenario analysis. The analysis of the vegetative cycle of banana over 7 months shows that the plantation date is crucial for the success of the intercrop. There was no significant difference between BP0 and BA0 for DM before flowering (4,5 t MS ha-1 for BP0 against 4,2 t MS ha-1 for BA0). The number of weddings is also significantly reduced for 8 to 3 between BP0 and BA0, respectively. Bananas performances are, however, more affected in BP60. Here, banana DM is reduced lo 2,7 t ha-1, that can be explicated by a higher adverse effect by the canavalia that was dominant at the plantation of banana -- 74 cm height against 29 cm for banana. The performed yield analysis may be considered as an efficient approach for the evaluation of the vegetative phase of the banana, growing sole or intercropped. The analysis of the reproductive phase is actually carried out and should complete this first diagnosis. Model validation under simulated vs. observed data was satisfying. Scenario studies of pure crop situations predicted yield values of 28 ha -1 against 20 t ha -1 (1) in situation with 400 kg nitrogen ha -1 and 133 mm irrigation, (ii) in situations without fertilizers and irrigation, respectively. A simulated yield of 16 t ha-1 was obtained in the case of intercrop without inputs. Test of contrasting scenarios may be used as a decision tool for the definition of adapted intercropping patterns - optimization of plant density and synchronization of the plantation dates of the two species, for instance -, and new agronomical standards may be studied. These investigations, however, must be carried on with the purpose of mean and long term effects evaluation of these cover-cropping systems in relation with the evolution of soil bio-physic-chemical properties - organic matter status and evolution, soil fauna transformation, weeding -, and sustainability.

AUTOR(ES)

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

RESUMO

ASSUNTO(S)

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados