The Integration of Shade-Sensitive Annual Crops in Musa spp. Plantations in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Small-holder banana fields are often intercropped with various annual crops to optimize land-use in East and Central Africa, a practice severely constrained by light availability under the banana canopy. Light availability is not a major constraint in newly established banana fields, giving a window of opportunity to target light-demanding annual crops before shifting to more shade-tolerant crops. This study investigated the performance of climbing and bush beans and the vegetable amaranth in banana fields with varying shade levels across three sites in the South Kivu province, DR Congo. These crops were selected for their highly nutritious and good market value and the added benefit of nitrogen fixation for the legumes. We show that both grain legumes and vegetable amaranth can achieve reasonable yields during a first annual cropping season in newly established banana fields, irrespective of the plant density. Declines in yield occurred during a second cropping season in more densely spaced banana fields (2 × 2 m and 2 × 3 m). A greater decline occurred in amaranth and its cultivation should be limited to the first annual cropping season or to less dense banana fields. The legumes could be extended to a second cropping season with reasonable yield. Significant variability in amaranth and legumes performance was observed across sites, with rapid yield declines occurring under more fertile soil conditions due to fast banana growth/canopy formation and under more vigorous cultivars. The choice of banana spacing will need to be tailored to the banana cultivar, soil conditions and the farmers’ objectives.

Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria juncea, and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) have the potential for improving productivity of banana‐based systems in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

“…This is also supported by the significantly high ( p < 0.01) and positive regressions between chickpea and crotalaria root nodulation with soil moisture. Similar observations have been reported for bush and climbing bean plants in the study region (Ntamwira et al, 2014, 2017, 2021; Ocimati et al, 2019). Moisture has been reported as a major factor in successful root nodulation, with more moisture required for N fixation than plant growth (Deak et al, 2019; Kasper et al, 2019; Kirda et al, 1989).…”

“…Leguminous crops are often used as a nutrient management strategy to reduce nitrogen fertilizer needs. The symbiotic association between leguminous crops and N fixing rhizobia has however been reported to be vulnerable to multiple abiotic and biotic stresses including water/drought stress, nutrition, and light availability (Hultman, 2018; Kasper et al, 2019; Ntamwira et al, 2021; Schubert, 1995). In the current study, root nodulation of the three legume crops (i.e., mucuna, crotalaria, and chickpea) declined with increasing banana canopy cover (i.e., declining PAR) and varied with seasons.…”

“…Intercropping of bananas with annual and perennial crops is common and inevitable in East and Central Africa due to the small farm sizes and the need to meet multiple household needs (Gambart et al, 2020; Ntamwira et al, 2021; Ocimati, 2019; Ocimati et al, 2018; Sivirihauma et al, 2017). Farms are continuously and intensively cultivated in this region hastening land degradation and yield reduction (Blomme et al, 2020; Niroula & Thapa, 2005; UBOS, 2010).…”

Better Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Improved Mchare Banana Productivity and Profitability in Northern Highlands, Tanzania

“…Still, an inoculated common bean intercrop can be a viable option in households with inadequate amounts of animal manure, especially when banana mats are more widely spaced. This is in agreement with earlier recommendations published in [32,33].…”

Innovative agroecological practices can restore degraded farmlands and revive crop yields

“…These improvements in root nodulation can be attributed to the improved availability of carbon and nutrients to support nodulation coupled with the improvement in soil physical and chemical properties over the 4-year period due to manure and NPK application in T2, and the effect of grasses, hedges, and cover crop in addition to the nutrients supplied in T3. Soil moisture, soil temperature and nutrition have been shown to affect root nodulation in legume crops (Deak et al, 2019;Kasper et al, 2019;Ntamwira et al, 2021;Blomme et al, 2022).…”