@article{fdi:010049275,
  title = {{E}ffect of intercropping on nematodes in two small-scale sugarcane farming systems in {S}outh {A}frica},
  author = {{B}erry, {S}. {D}. and {D}ana, {P}. and {S}paull, {V}. {W}. and {C}adet, {P}atrice},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}wo trials were planted on sandy soils on small-scale grower farms to study the effect of intercropping on the nematode fauna, soil and plant fertility and sugarcane yield. {P}eanut ({A}rachis hypogaea) and sugar bean ({P}haseolus limensis) were intercropped between the sugarcane rows in the first trial; velvet bean ({M}ucuna deeringiana) and sweet potato ({I}pomoea batatas) were intercropped in the second trial. {T}hese practices were compared to a standard aldicarb (nematicide) treatment and an untreated control. {I}n the first trial (irrigated sugarcane), peanut grew well as an intercrop, however, 70% of the sugar bean died before producing seeds. {I}ntercropping with sugar bean had no effect on initial sugarcane stalk number whereas peanut reduced initial sugarcane stalk number by 30%. {I}n the second trial (non-irrigated sugarcane), both velvet bean and sweet potato grew well as intercrops. {I}ntercropping resulted in initial reduction in sugarcane stalk number of 30% for sweet potato and 70% for velvet bean. {H}owever, for both trials, and for all intercrops (except peanut), the sugarcane stalk number at harvest was the same as that of the control. {I}ntercropping with velvet bean, peanut and sweet potato increased {M}eloidogyne javanica and {P}ratylenchus zeae infestation of the sugarcane sett roots; conversely, intercropping with sugar bean reduced nematode infestation. {I}ntercropping with velvet bean, sugar bean and sweet potato had no effect on sugarcane yield, whereas intercropping with peanut reduced sugarcane yield by 22% and sucrose yield by 29%. {I}ntercropping with velvet bean increased levels of some nutrients in the soil and leaves of sugarcane. {T}hese results show that intercropping can be used by small-scale growers to: manage nematodes (sugar bean), provide nutrients to the sugarcane crop (velvet bean), provide alternative food source and/or income (sweet potatoes) and to improve the overall productivity of the land without being detrimental to sugarcane cultivation.},
  keywords = {{I}ntercropping ; nematodes ; small-scale farming ; soil fertility ; {S}outh {A}frica ; sugarcane},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}ematropica},
  volume = {39},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {11--33},
  ISSN = {0099-5444},
  year = {2009},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010049275},
}