According to Altieri (1999), Latin American farmers grow 70–90% of their beans in a mixed system with maize, potatoes, and other crops. However, despite the success of intercropping in developing countries and the rising popularity of intercropping in developed ones (Kahn, 2010), multi-layer architecturally complex intercropping systems have not been studied extensively in the United States. Many studies have evaluated the role of biodiversity in agroecosystems. Most have not incorporated the concept of functional diversity, but only the number of species present. What is known is that functionally diverse plant communities can lead to increased total community productivity. What is unknown, however, is if this will translate into an increase in yield and total food production per area and per plant. The objectives of this study
were to determine if a multifunctional intercropping system can lead to overyielding in crop production and to examine the effects on fruit quality. We hypothesized that a functionally diverse cropping system will lead to overyielding and an increase in total fruit production in an organic system consisting of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), and hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). We also hypothesized that fruit quality will be reduced only in sub-dominant crops.
According to Altieri (1999), Latin American farmers grow 70–90% of their beans in a mixed system with maize, potatoes, and other crops. However, despite the success of intercropping in developing countries and the rising popularity of intercropping in developed ones (Kahn, 2010), multi-layer architecturally complex intercropping systems have not been studied extensively in the United States. Many studies have evaluated the role of biodiversity in agroecosystems. Most have not incorporated the concept of functional diversity, but only the number of species present. What is known is that functionally diverse plant communities can lead to increased total community productivity. What is unknown, however, is if this will translate into an increase in yield and total food production per area and per plant. The objectives of this studywere to determine if a multifunctional intercropping system can lead to overyielding in crop production and to examine the effects on fruit quality. We hypothesized that a functionally diverse cropping system will lead to overyielding and an increase in total fruit production in an organic system consisting of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), and hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). We also hypothesized that fruit quality will be reduced only in sub-dominant crops.
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