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The integration of shade-sensitive annual crops in Musa spp. plantations in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo

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Title The integration of shade-sensitive annual crops in Musa spp. plantations in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
 
Creator Ntamwira, Jules Bagula
Ocimati, Walter
Kearsley, Elizabeth
Safari, Nancy
Bahati, Liliane
Amini, Daniel
Kanyenga Lubobo, Antoine
Waswa, Boaz Shaban
Blomme, Guy
 
Subject banana
biomass
food crops
intensification
productivity
biomasa
cultivos alimenticios
intensificación
 
Description 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 shadetolerant 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.
 
Date 2021-02-19
2021-03-04T09:41:53Z
2021-03-04T09:41:53Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Ntamwira, J.; Ocimati, W.; Kearsley, E.; Safari, N.; Bahati, L.; Amini, D.; Lubobo, A.K.; Waswa, B.; Blomme, G. (2021) The integration of shade-sensitive annual crops in Musa spp. plantations in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Agronomy 11(2) 368. 18 p. ISSN: 2073-4395
2073-4395
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111767
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11020368
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-4.0
Open Access
 
Format 18 p.
application/pdf
 
Publisher MDPI AG
 
Source Agronomy