Successive vegetable intercropping in organic system: agronomic and economic performance

Abstract

Intercropping is a technique employed to increase productivity and profit per unit area in addition to maximizing the use of environmental resources and promoting ecological balance. Considering the advantages this practice can offer in vegetable cultivation, the present study aimed to evaluate the agronomic indices and profitability achieved through the cultivation of common kale intercropped with carrots and mustard in a crop succession system. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design (RBD), with four replicates. The kale plots were arranged in a factorial scheme (2x2), considering: factor spacing for kale planting [E1 (1.00 x 0.50 m) and E2 (0.50 x 0.50 m)]; and the intercropping factor [presence and absence of intercropping (considering carrots first and then mustard)]. The carrot and mustard plots followed the RBD, with three cultivation systems (treatments): system 1 = monoculture; system 2 = intercropping with kale at E1; system 3 = intercropping with kale at E2. Throughout the kale cycle, carrots were replaced by mustard. The kale-carrot intercropping, succeeded by kale-mustard at the E1 spacing, showed good yield and land use efficiency of 184%, with greater profitability than monocultures. The kale-carrot intercropping, succeeded by kale-mustard at the E2 spacing, also showed agronomic efficiency (63%) and positive economic yield, but with lower profitability than monocultures.