Potential of maize and legumes for double cropping in Northwest Mountainous Region of Vietnam | |
| Author | Nguyen Phi Hung |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AS-11-03 |
| Subject(s) | Double cropping Vietnam Corn Vietnam Legumes Vietnam |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture System and Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AS-11-03 |
| Abstract | People in the slopping land, Northwestern mountainous region in Vietnam, grow one crop of maize per year and facing difficulties in food security. The risk of weather conditions, lack of appropriate varieties and lack of knowledge of giving a second crop are main constraints in growing a second crop. This experiment was aimed at finding the potential of double cropping and its economic and other benefits. Current study was carried out in slopping lands in Ho Thau Commune, Tam Duong District, Lai Chau Province with seven treatments including sole or/and intercrops of maize and three legumes (soybean, peanut and black bean).The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with four replications. Data of weather and soil characteristics were recorded. Crop growth, yield and yield components were examined. Furthermore, land use efficiency and economic effectiveness of sole crop and intercrops were calculated. Finally, a survey was conducted as a form of interviews of 30 local farmers in their willingness of adopting new technologies. Sole cropping and/or intercropping maize and legumes provided tangible yield gains from 0.63 t/ha (sole peanut)-3.71 t/ha (sole maize). This indirectly enhanced the family net incomes from 13.47 $/ha (sole maize) to 796.15 $/ha (sole black bean), along with 138.95 $/ha (maize + peanut) and 293.54 $/ha (maize + black bean). The second crops of both sole and/or intercrops of maize and three legumes helped reduce the soil losses by erosion from 20 to 25 t/ha, better than leaving soil fallow (34 t/ha). Dry matter of maize and legume was left in the soil about 3-5 t/ha per season. The results revealed that a double cropping is highly as per weather and soil conditions feasible in the Northwest mountainous region of Vietnam. By adjusting the planting time to March and harvesting the first crop in June, the second crop could be successfully grown during July to October months with the normal rainfall and favorable weather conditions. Discussion with the farmer groups, it was found that black bean and peanut are preferred as sole crops or intercropping with maize, which provided best returns and soil improvement. Soybean was not much preferred in the mountainous region. Further dissemination of technologies for sole crop or intercropping maize and legumes would be expected by the farmers who showed their willingness to change in order to improve their family incomes and livelihood. |
| Keyword | Intercropping; sole cropping; soil erosion; crop biomass; maize and legumes |
| Year | 2011 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AS-11-03 |
| Type | Thesis |
| 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.; Cochard, Roland; Le Quoc Doanh |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | International Fellowships Program-Ford Foundation, USA;AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |