Evaluation of an intercropping system: lettuce and radish growing in fruit sapling production

Abstract

Agricultural production is one of the most negatively affected sectors from increasing population and global warming. Increasing food demand along with narrowing agricultural production areas increased the need for sustainable agricultural approaches where the unit area is better utilized. Intercropping systems are of those approaches based on the principle of growing more than one crop in the same area. In this study it was aimed to analyze the opportunities of increasing land-use efficiency in open field fruit sapling production. For this aim lettuce and radish were grown on the inter-rows of almond, apple, apricot, cherry, and pear sapling growing lines. When compared with control plants, results indicated a slight negative effect of intercropping systems on sapling quality. Vegetable yield and pomological values (except chemical parameters) were lower in the vegetables subjected to intercropping. On the other hand, Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Net Economic Profit (NEP) were higher in intercropping lines. LER value varied between 1.86 and 1.97, and NEP value between 3328 and 6962 USD/da. These results indicated that land-use efficiency was increased with the examined intercropping system. As a result of the study notwithstanding the quality and yield loses it was concluded that intercropping of lettuce and radish in fruit sapling production is a beneficial growing application for the mentioned aims.