2013•Zhongguo shucaiRequires access
Effects of Potato/Maize Intercropping with Different Row Ratios on Commercial Quality and Economic Benefits of Different Potato Varieties
Yang Guo-cai
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Abstract
In order to clarify the effects of potato/maize intercropping system on potato(Solanum tuberosum L.)commercial quality and its economic benefits,and choose appropriate potato varieties to interplant with maize,a potato/maize intercropping field experiment with 2 different potato-maize row ratios and 4 potato varieties were carried out to study the changes in potato commercial quality andtotal output value under intercropping condition.The results showed that the number and weight of commodity tubers(the weight ≥ 50 g)per plant,the commodity tuber percent and ratio of commodity tuber quality in total tuber quality,both the weight of per commodity tuber and tubers per plant were all reduced under intercropping condition.In addition,the number and weight of commodity tubers per plant,and weight of tubers per plant were very significantly higher in 3∶2 row ratios than that in 2∶2 row ratios under intercropping system.The differences between commodity tubers with these 2 row ratios were due to different potato cultivars.No substantial differences were observed on the weight of per commodity tuber and the weight percent of commodity tuber in total tuber between the 2 potato-maize row ratios.Moreover,intercropping led to noticeable reduction in fresh and dry biomass.The tuber yield and yield of commodity tuber in intercropping were remarkably lower than that in single cropping system. That in 2∶2 row ratios was lower than that in 3∶2 row ratios.Under intercropping,‘Faviorita’had better commercial characteristics,while‘Zhongshu No.5’had poorer commodity characteristics, ‘Eshu No.5’and‘Mira’had middle level quality.High or low total output value in intercropping systems was not always positively correlated with potato commodity characteristics.The total output value of intercropping was higher than maize output value in mono-cropping maize.But,there were differences between different cultivars and different row ratios in mono-potato.The varieties suitable for intercropping with maize and favorable row ratios were in the following order:‘Faviorita’with ratio 3∶2, ‘Zhongshu No.5’with ratio 3∶2,‘Mira’with ratio 3∶2,and‘Faviorita’with ratio 2∶2.