Sustainability of carrot-cowpea intercropping systems through optimization of green manuring and spatial arrangements

ABSTRACT: One of the biggest challenges in intercropping two or more crops is to maintain their productivity as that sole counterparts. In order obtain sustainable systems a semi-arid environment, this study evaluated agro-economic advantage and sustainability intercropped carrot cowpea, optimizing green manuring spatial arrangements. Experiments were conducted period from July October 2017 2018, using randomized complete block design with treatments arranged 4 x 3 factorial scheme, four replications. Treatments included amounts M. aegyptia incorporated into soil (20, 35, 50, 65 t ha-1 on dry basis) three arrangements (2:2, 3:3, 4:4) between components cultures formed cowpea rows alternated rows. The indices were: land equivalent ratio (LER), area-time (ATER), score canonical variable (Z), actual yield loss (AYL), (IA), gross income (GI), net (NI), rate return (RR), profit margin (PM). highest advantages obtained for LER, ATER, NI, RR 2.60, 4.16, US$ 8,720.99 ha-1, 2.21, respectively, biomass 46.42, 47.82, 32.60 31.51t added soil. 2: 2 arrangement was one best productive performance, higher carrot-cowpea.