Articles
Climatic change adaptation strategy for dry season amaranth cropping systems in the tropics: a case study from irrigated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) as live mulch
Article number
1269_37
Pages
273 – 276
Language
English
Abstract
As live mulch, crops like watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) could reduce soil temperatures and improve soil moisture levels in the dry off-season of sub Saharan Africa, resulting in reduced needs for irrigation and providing additional income to farmers from produce harvested in mixed cropping systems.
This study therefore seeks to quantify the impact of watermelon live mulch on irrigation requirements, adaptation to climatic change and yield potential of an amaranth production system in the dry off-season.
Grain amaranth was planted at 0.75×0.75 m spacing, and there were three sowing densities of watermelon: 1.5×0.45; 1.5×0.90; 1.5×1.50 m.
Control plots were planted with only grain amaranth.
Averaged over two consecutive cropping seasons, irrigation water requirement was optimally (P=0.05) reduced compared to the control plot.
Amaranth grain yields were highest at 1.5×0.90 m watermelon plant spacing.
Maximum soil temperature was reduced by the watermelon mulch relative to the control.
Soil moisture content was also significantly (P=0.05) greater in the live mulch treatments compared to the control.
Our research demonstrates that live mulch lowers soil temperatures; reducing water requirements for irrigation in the dry season, and provided opportunities in the adaptation of agricultural production systems under climate change scenarios.
This study therefore seeks to quantify the impact of watermelon live mulch on irrigation requirements, adaptation to climatic change and yield potential of an amaranth production system in the dry off-season.
Grain amaranth was planted at 0.75×0.75 m spacing, and there were three sowing densities of watermelon: 1.5×0.45; 1.5×0.90; 1.5×1.50 m.
Control plots were planted with only grain amaranth.
Averaged over two consecutive cropping seasons, irrigation water requirement was optimally (P=0.05) reduced compared to the control plot.
Amaranth grain yields were highest at 1.5×0.90 m watermelon plant spacing.
Maximum soil temperature was reduced by the watermelon mulch relative to the control.
Soil moisture content was also significantly (P=0.05) greater in the live mulch treatments compared to the control.
Our research demonstrates that live mulch lowers soil temperatures; reducing water requirements for irrigation in the dry season, and provided opportunities in the adaptation of agricultural production systems under climate change scenarios.
Authors
D. Ojo, I. Aiyelaagbe
Keywords
dry season, climate change, tropics, temperature, moisture, watermelon
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Commission Banana
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Commission Cultivar Registration
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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