Abstract
The potential of tree arrangement in optimizing radiation and soil water distribution and crop yield of hedgerow intercropping systems was investigated using a Jatropha curcas–Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) system (Ukulinga, South Africa). Treatments (1110 t ha−1) of Jatropha-only (JO), single-row Jatropha and kikuyu (SR), and double-row Jatropha and kikuyu (DR) were used. Treatments had asymmetrical radiation distribution across tree–crop (T–C) interfaces and different radiation interception by trees (JO: 27 %, SR: 11 %, DR: 8 %). Soil water varied among treatments and was asymmetrically distributed showing no consistent trend towards trees. Evapotranspiration was higher (p < 0.05) in SR than DR (13–65 %) and JO (16–37 %) for most part of the season. Estimated fine tree roots distribution was symmetrical in DR but not JO and SR. Total roots in SR were concentrated in the top 0.2 m (91 %) and beneath tree row (30 %), and varied inconsistently with distance from trees. Grass yields increased farther from tree rows and were higher in SR (8.7 t ha−1 in 2006–2007; 4.3 t ha−1 in 2007–2008) than DR (by <9 %). Radiation use efficiency of kikuyu (0.14–0.44 g MJ−1) also increased with distance from trees but irradiance correlated with grass yields poorly (R2 < 0.32) despite high rainfall and no nutrient limitation. Considering total productivity and evapotranspiration, DR was better tree arrangement than SR. Water availability dictated T–C interactions and intercrop yield more than radiation. It was possible to optimize radiation and water distribution and intercrop growth by manipulating tree arrangement without changing density.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Balandier P, De Montard FX (2008) Root competition for water between trees and grass in a silvopastoral plot of 10 year old Prunus avium. In: Batish DR, Kohli RK, Jose S, Singh HP (eds) Ecological basis of agroforestry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 253–270
Bayala J, Wallace JS (2015) The water balance of mixed tree-crop systems. In: Ong CK, Black C, Wilson J (eds) Tree–crop interactions, 2nd edition: agroforestry in a changing climate. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 146–190
Berlyn GP, Cho J (2000) Light, moisture and nutrient use by plants. In: Ashton MS, Montagnini F (eds) The silvicultural basis for agroforestry systems. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 9–39
Black CR, Radhawa D, Ong CK (2015) Principles of resource capture and use of light and water. In: Ong CK, Black C, Wilson J (eds) Tree–crop interactions, 2nd edition: agroforestry in a changing climate. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 57–118
Camp KG (1997) The bioresource groups of KwaZulu-Natal. Department of Agriculture, Cedara Report No. N/A/97/6. KZN South Africa
Daniel JN, Ong CK, Kumar MS (1991) Growth and resource utilization of perennial pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp) at the tree–crop interface. Agrofor Syst 12:83–98
Eastham J, Rose CW (1990) Tree/pasture interactions at a range of tree densities in an agroforestry experiment. I. Rooting patterns. Aus J Agric Res 41:683–695
Everson CS, Ghezehei SB, Everson TM, Annandale J (2012) Agroforestry systems for improved productivity through the efficient use of water. Water Research Commission Report No. 1480/1/12, Pretoria, South Africa
Ghezehei SB, Annandale JG, Everson CS (2009) Shoot allometry of Jatropha curcas. South For 71(4):279–286
Ghezehei SB, Everson CS, Annandale JG (2015) Can productivity and post-pruning growth of Jatropha curcas in silvopastoral systems be regulated by manipulating tree spacing/arrangement without changing tree density? Biomass Bioenergy 74:233–243
González-Hernández MP, Rozados-Lorenzo MJ (2008) Pasture production and tree growth in agroforestry system of northwest Spain. In: Batish DR, Kohli RK, Jose S, Singh HP (eds) Ecological basis of agroforestry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 361–373
Huth NI, Robertson MJ, Poulton PL (2010) Regional differences in tree–crop competition due to soil, climate and management. Crop Pasture Sci 61:763–770
Huxley P (1999) Tropical agroforestry. Blackwell Science Ltd, London
Jonsson K, Fidgeland L, Maghambe JA, Hogberg P (1988) The vertical distribution of fine roots of five tree species and maize in Morogor, Tanzania. Agrofor Syst 6:63–69
Knowles RL, Horvath GC, Carter MA, Hawke MF (1999) Developing a canopy closure model to predict overstorey/understorey relationships in Pinus radiate silvopastoral systems. Agrofor Syst 43:109–119
Livesley SJ, Gregory PJ, Buresh RJ (2000) Competition in tree row agroforestry systems. 1. Distribution and dynamics of fine root length and biomass. Plant Soil 227:149–161
Malik RS, Sharma SK (1990) Moisture extraction and crop yield as a function of distance from a row of Eucalyptus tereticornis. Agrofor Syst 12:187–195
Odhiambo HO, Ong CK, Deans JD, Wilson Jkhan AAH, Sprent JI (2001) Roots, soil water and crop yield: tree crop interactions in a semi-arid agroforestry system in Kenya. Plant Soil 235:221–233
Ong CK, Kho RM (2015) A framework for quantifying the various effects of tree-crop interactions. In: Ong CK, Black C, Wilson J (eds) Tree–crop interactions, 2nd edition: agroforestry in a changing climate. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 1–23
Ong CK, Black CR, Wallace JS, Khan AAH, Lott JE, Jackson NA, Howard SB, Smith DM (2000) Productivity, microclimate and water use in Grevillea Robusta-based agroforestry systems on hillslopes in semi-arid Kenya agriculture. Agric Ecosyst Environ 80:121–141
Ong CK, Wilson J, Deans JD, Mulayta J, Raussen T, Wajja-Musukwe N (2002) Tree–crop interactions: manipulation of water use and root function. Agric Water Manag 53:171–186
Ong CK, Black CR, Wilson J, Muthuri C, Bayala J, Jackson NA (2014) Agroforestry: hydrological impacts. In: Van Alfen N (ed) Encyclopedia of agriculture and food systems, vol 1. Elsevier, San Diego, pp 244–252
Onyewotu LOZ, Stigter CJ (1995) Eucalyptus-its reputation and its roots: millet and a Eucalyptus shelterbelt in northern Nigeria. Agrofor Today 7:6–8
SAS software, Version 9.01 of the SAS System for Windows. Copyright © 2002 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary
Sibbald AR, Sinclair FL (1990) A review of agroforestry research in progress in the UK. Agrofor Abstr 3(4):149–164
PCTDR software, TDR Graphing PC Software, Version 2.07; Copyright © 1997, 2001, by Campbell Scientific, Inc., Logan
Van Noordwijk M, Lawson G, Hairiah K, Wilson J (2015) Root distribution of trees and crops: competition and/or complementarity. In: Ong CK, Black C, Wilson J (eds) Tree–crop interactions, 2nd edition: agroforestry in a changing climate. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 221–257
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa for funding the project (K5/1480/1/12), CSIR-Natural Resource & Environment for collaborating on this research, and Mr Lelethu Sinuka and Dr. Michael Abraha for their assistance during data collection.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ghezehei, S.B., Annandale, J. & Everson, C. Optimizing resource distribution and crop productivity in hedgerow intercropping by manipulating tree arrangement. Agroforest Syst 90, 861–873 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9951-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9951-x