An alternative approach to the analysis of mixed cropping experiments. 2. Marketable yield.

Abstract

The effects of competition on marketable yield are derived from those on biomass by means of the relation between individual plant biomass and harvest index. A method is presented to estimate competition effects and advantage of mixed cropping directly from the data of marketable yield. The effect of spp. composition and population density on the advantage of mixed cropping, measured by the land equivalent ratio, is partitioned into an effect due to better resource exploitation (niche differentiation), a favourable influence of mixed cropping on harvest index and an effect due to density which can also be achieved by growing monocrops at a higher density. The approach is illustrated with the results of an experiment on mixed cropping of maize and groundnuts. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)