The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania
CONTEXT Maize-legume intercropping is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Effects of legumes on the companion maize crop are determined principally by choice of legume species and relative introduction time. Performance of intercrops is optimized when legumes' planting is timed such that their peak growth...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/130657 |
| _version_ | 1855540303807643648 |
|---|---|
| author | Mugi-Ngenga, E. Bastiaans, L. Anten, N.P.R. Zingore, S. Baijukya, F. Giller, Kenneth E. |
| author_browse | Anten, N.P.R. Baijukya, F. Bastiaans, L. Giller, Kenneth E. Mugi-Ngenga, E. Zingore, S. |
| author_facet | Mugi-Ngenga, E. Bastiaans, L. Anten, N.P.R. Zingore, S. Baijukya, F. Giller, Kenneth E. |
| author_sort | Mugi-Ngenga, E. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | CONTEXT
Maize-legume intercropping is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Effects of legumes on the companion maize crop are determined principally by choice of legume species and relative introduction time. Performance of intercrops is optimized when legumes' planting is timed such that their peak growth phase occurs after maize harvest, with legumes utilizing the residual soil moisture.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to understand the role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-pigeonpea and maize-lablab intercrops.
METHODS
We analysed experimentally determined shoot biomass of sole and intercropped maize, lablab, long and medium- duration pigeonpea. Experiments were conducted in northern Tanzania for two consecutive seasons. The second season was drier (236 mm) than the first (551 mm). We constructed a parameter-sparse growth model, calibrated based on sole crops data. The model calculates growth rate as radiation interception × radiation-use efficiency. When simulated actual soil moisture content fell below a species-specific critical level, the ratio between actual and potential transpiration for that species decreased, and crop growth rate was reduced proportional to this reduction.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
There was good agreement between simulated and observed shoot biomass of maize and the legumes. With rooting depth of 60 cm, maize was simulated to be sensitive to annual precipitation, resulting in 3.5 t ha−1 (34%) reduction in shoot dry matter production in the second season. By contrast, the legumes, with a rooting depth of 200 cm did not experience water shortage in either of the two seasons, resulting in nearly identical shoot dry matter production in both seasons. Explorative simulations assuming the legumes to have shallower rooting depth confirmed the importance of this trait for avoidance of water stress, with simulated reductions in dry matter production of 23–34% for the legumes when rooting depth was reduced from 200 to 60 cm. Maize in the intercrop was modestly influenced by the legumes due to light competition. In the low precipitation season, additional competition for water occurred and water shortage for maize was aggravated. Maize influenced the legumes only through competition for light, as a tap root allowed the legumes to utilize water stored in deeper soil layers. During the co-growth period, competition for light exerted by maize on the legumes was strong, but they partly compensated for this in the period after maize harvest.
SIGNIFICANCE
Our results emphasize the important role of the deep legume tap root for the success of maize-legume intercrops under rain-fed conditions. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace130657 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1306572025-11-11T11:04:03Z The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania Mugi-Ngenga, E. Bastiaans, L. Anten, N.P.R. Zingore, S. Baijukya, F. Giller, Kenneth E. intercropping simulation soil water balance rooting radiation tanzania CONTEXT Maize-legume intercropping is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Effects of legumes on the companion maize crop are determined principally by choice of legume species and relative introduction time. Performance of intercrops is optimized when legumes' planting is timed such that their peak growth phase occurs after maize harvest, with legumes utilizing the residual soil moisture. OBJECTIVE We sought to understand the role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-pigeonpea and maize-lablab intercrops. METHODS We analysed experimentally determined shoot biomass of sole and intercropped maize, lablab, long and medium- duration pigeonpea. Experiments were conducted in northern Tanzania for two consecutive seasons. The second season was drier (236 mm) than the first (551 mm). We constructed a parameter-sparse growth model, calibrated based on sole crops data. The model calculates growth rate as radiation interception × radiation-use efficiency. When simulated actual soil moisture content fell below a species-specific critical level, the ratio between actual and potential transpiration for that species decreased, and crop growth rate was reduced proportional to this reduction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS There was good agreement between simulated and observed shoot biomass of maize and the legumes. With rooting depth of 60 cm, maize was simulated to be sensitive to annual precipitation, resulting in 3.5 t ha−1 (34%) reduction in shoot dry matter production in the second season. By contrast, the legumes, with a rooting depth of 200 cm did not experience water shortage in either of the two seasons, resulting in nearly identical shoot dry matter production in both seasons. Explorative simulations assuming the legumes to have shallower rooting depth confirmed the importance of this trait for avoidance of water stress, with simulated reductions in dry matter production of 23–34% for the legumes when rooting depth was reduced from 200 to 60 cm. Maize in the intercrop was modestly influenced by the legumes due to light competition. In the low precipitation season, additional competition for water occurred and water shortage for maize was aggravated. Maize influenced the legumes only through competition for light, as a tap root allowed the legumes to utilize water stored in deeper soil layers. During the co-growth period, competition for light exerted by maize on the legumes was strong, but they partly compensated for this in the period after maize harvest. SIGNIFICANCE Our results emphasize the important role of the deep legume tap root for the success of maize-legume intercrops under rain-fed conditions. 2023-04 2023-06-06T09:46:49Z 2023-06-06T09:46:49Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/130657 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Mugi-Ngenga, E., Bastiaans, L., Anten, N.P.R., Zingore, S., Baijukya, F. & Giller, K. (2023). The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania. Agricultural Systems, 207:103619, 1-18. |
| spellingShingle | intercropping simulation soil water balance rooting radiation tanzania Mugi-Ngenga, E. Bastiaans, L. Anten, N.P.R. Zingore, S. Baijukya, F. Giller, Kenneth E. The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania |
| title | The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania |
| title_full | The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania |
| title_short | The role of inter-specific competition for water in maize-legume intercropping systems in northern Tanzania |
| title_sort | role of inter specific competition for water in maize legume intercropping systems in northern tanzania |
| topic | intercropping simulation soil water balance rooting radiation tanzania |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/130657 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mugingengae theroleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT bastiaansl theroleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT antennpr theroleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT zingores theroleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT baijukyaf theroleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT gillerkennethe theroleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT mugingengae roleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT bastiaansl roleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT antennpr roleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT zingores roleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT baijukyaf roleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania AT gillerkennethe roleofinterspecificcompetitionforwaterinmaizelegumeintercroppingsystemsinnortherntanzania |