Articles
Fertilization and intercropping with medicinal plants and edible flowers in the agroecological cultivation of tropical flowers
Article number
1417_33
Pages
279 – 284
Language
English
Abstract
The flower and ornamental plant industries have grown considerably, and the consumer market requires high-quality products from sustainable agriculture.
Tropical cut flowers have excellent characteristics, such as exuberant colors, exotic shapes, and postharvest durability.
This work aimed to determine the efficiency of organic fertilizer and intercropping with medicinal plants and edible flowers in the development of tropical plants in agroecological cultivation.
Two experiments were carried out using Heliconia psittacorum, Strelitzia reginae, and Zingiber spectabile; Heliconia and Strelitzia were intercropped with medicinal plants while Zingiber spectabile was not, as its growth habit could inhibit the development of the designated species.
Three organic fertilizers (composting, cattle manure, Bio Bokashi) were tested for the development of the species.
The intercropping with medicinal plants and edible flowers was carried out to simulate agroecological cultivation by increasing plant diversity; the plants were inserted in all experimental plots intercropped with the following species: Ocimum basilicum, Lippia alba, Tagetes erecta, and Viola tricolor. Biometric analyses included: plant height, number of leaves on the clump, number of tillers in the clump, stem length, bract length, stem diameter, inflorescence length, inflorescence diameter, fresh flower stem mass, dry mass of the floral stem and number of inflorescences.
Organic fertilizers did not have a significant effect on the biometric assessments carried out.
Among tropical species, Heliconia psittacorum and Zingiber spectabile showed early production and higher productivity and floral stems with characteristics suited to the demands of the cut flower market.
Diversification with the intercropping was favorable to the agroecological cultivation of Heliconia and Strelitzia, as there was no pest attack, but the presence of natural enemies.
Furthermore, it provides another source of income for the producer by removing medicinal plants and edible flowers for sale, in addition to tropical flowers.
We concluded that fertilization did not influence the evaluated parameters and the agroecological cultivation of Heliconia psittacorum intercropped with medicinal plants and edible flowers is a promising alternative.
Tropical cut flowers have excellent characteristics, such as exuberant colors, exotic shapes, and postharvest durability.
This work aimed to determine the efficiency of organic fertilizer and intercropping with medicinal plants and edible flowers in the development of tropical plants in agroecological cultivation.
Two experiments were carried out using Heliconia psittacorum, Strelitzia reginae, and Zingiber spectabile; Heliconia and Strelitzia were intercropped with medicinal plants while Zingiber spectabile was not, as its growth habit could inhibit the development of the designated species.
Three organic fertilizers (composting, cattle manure, Bio Bokashi) were tested for the development of the species.
The intercropping with medicinal plants and edible flowers was carried out to simulate agroecological cultivation by increasing plant diversity; the plants were inserted in all experimental plots intercropped with the following species: Ocimum basilicum, Lippia alba, Tagetes erecta, and Viola tricolor. Biometric analyses included: plant height, number of leaves on the clump, number of tillers in the clump, stem length, bract length, stem diameter, inflorescence length, inflorescence diameter, fresh flower stem mass, dry mass of the floral stem and number of inflorescences.
Organic fertilizers did not have a significant effect on the biometric assessments carried out.
Among tropical species, Heliconia psittacorum and Zingiber spectabile showed early production and higher productivity and floral stems with characteristics suited to the demands of the cut flower market.
Diversification with the intercropping was favorable to the agroecological cultivation of Heliconia and Strelitzia, as there was no pest attack, but the presence of natural enemies.
Furthermore, it provides another source of income for the producer by removing medicinal plants and edible flowers for sale, in addition to tropical flowers.
We concluded that fertilization did not influence the evaluated parameters and the agroecological cultivation of Heliconia psittacorum intercropped with medicinal plants and edible flowers is a promising alternative.
Authors
M.N.O. Ribeiro, E.B. Santos, E.F.A. Almeida, C.F. Nunes
Keywords
cut flowers, flower production, organic cultivation
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
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