| Author | Srshad, Muhammad |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.AS-12-01 |
| Subject(s) | Sorgo
|
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Systems, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Dissertation ; no. AS-12-01 |
| Abstract | Sweet sorghum is a popular grain crop widely grown as a sole crop in water stress prone areas in Asia. Its sole stand often leaves ample resources untapped. This study evaluated the feasibility of intercropping sweet sorghum with mung bean and soybean for increasing crop yields per unit area of agricultural lands. There were two experiments conducted in detail. The first experiment was a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial combination of eight intercropping patterns composed of sweet sorghum with two legumes (viz. mung bean and soybean), two row patterns [viz. alternate single row (ASR) and double row (ADR)] and two seeding times (simultaneous and staggered seeding) with sole crops of sweet sorghum, mung bean and soybean in a randomized complete block design with three replicates during dry and wet seasons (2009-2010). The second experiment was a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial combination of twelve intercropping patterns to evaluate selected intercropping patterns of sweet sorghum with mung bean and soybean from the first experiment under three N levels and two types of air quality in dry season 2011. The treatments included two intercropping patterns composed of sweet sorghum and two legumes (viz. mung bean and soybean), three nitrogen doses (viz. 30, 60 & 120 kg ha-1) and two air quality environments (viz. filtered air & ambient air) and three sole crops of sweet sorghum, mung bean and soybean. The experimental treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications in the first experiment while complete randomized design with three replications in the second experiment. In both first experiments, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), above ground biomass (AGB), grain yield, and selected food ingredients, bioethanol yielding chemical substances, and bioethanol yield (BEY) were monitored between sole and intercropping as well as within intercropping were monitored and compared. in a completely randomized design. In the analysis of data, performance in intercropping was compared with sole cropping using orthogonal contrast procedure, and analysis of variance was used for determining significance of treatment effects.
The results showed that growth and grain yield of sweet sorghum were at par when intercropped with soybean, but significantly (p ≤ 0.001) reduced when intercropped with mung bean in all the experiments due to greater competition from legume for available resources. Sweet sorghum established with soybean in staggered seeding increased the grain yield in both the ASR and ADR patterns compared to its sole crop. All the intercropping patterns had land equivalent ratio (LER) above unity. Nitrogen application at 60 kg ha-1 provided the highest grain yield and LER together with total outputs of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and energy in intercropping compared to that in sole crop of sweet sorghum. Filtered air with reduced air pollutants of O3, NO2 and SO2 significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved the growth and seed yield of intercropped mung bean and soybean. The AGB and BEY were highest in sweet sorghum-soybean intercropping established with staggered seeding compared to its sole cropping and intercropping with mung bean. Cellulose, hemicellulose, soluble sugar, and starch contents in intercropped sweet sorghum were insignificantly reduced with staggered seeding compared to its sole crop.
In conclusion, the intercropping sweet sorghum with soybean established with staggered seeding and ASR pattern will help increase AGB and BEY production whereas, intercropping sweet sorghum either with mung bean or soybean established with simultaneous seeding and ASR pattern provide the highest food and BEY production instead of growing sweet sorghum as sole crop. |
| Year | 2012 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Dissertation ; no. AS-12-01 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Aquatic Systems(AS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shrestha, Rajendra P.;Clements R.S.;Oanh, Kim; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan;Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2012 |