Intercropping of some brassica crops with mango trees under different net house color.
Abul-Soud M. A., Emam M. S. A., Abdrabbo M. A. A.
Author Affiliation: Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences 10 : 70-79
Abstract : The modern technique of producing fruits (Orange, grape, mango and etc.) is under net house as a response for the call of increasing the fruit production to avoid the climate change impacts and sustainable production. The intercropping method introduces better water and soil use efficiency and increasing the food security in addition to reduce the economic risk of agricultural production. In this study brassica plants (Red cabbage, Chinese cabbage and white cabbage) were cultivated as intercrops in-rows and in-between young mango trees (two-years old), under different five net colors for covering greenhouses (white, black, blue, yellow and red net) comparing to open field to increase the soil use efficiency through the bare areas among and in betweenthe mango rows especially at the winter season. Trials were carried out during two growing winter seasons of 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 at El-Bossily farm, CLAC, Agricultural Research Center, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt. This study investigated the effects of different net color on the growth and production of some brassica crops in terms of light intensity, air temperature, relative humidity and plant growth were evaluated over the two seasons. Regardless of net color, all treatments decreased maximum temperatures and increased relative humidity compared with open field conditions. The different brassica crops had different trend under different net colors. The use of white and yellow nets resulted in a significant increase of the number of leaves, fresh and dry weight and weight of cabbage plant compared to other treatments. Data revealed that climate under white and yellow nets is the most appropriate microclimate for producing cabbage under Egyptian conditions. There were no negative impacts on mango growth and yield as affected by intercropping. The net color affected the N, P and K contents of cabbage plants. The white and yellow net cover gave the highest values of net income, value cost ratio (VC) and relative increase in income (RII) for all Chinese cabbage, white cabbage and red cabbage. Cultivation white and red cabbage crops under net house increase the net income and reduce the cost of IPM via reducing the insecticide use compared to open field.