Soil Management and Peanut Intercropping for Plicatulum Grass Yield and Quality in Organic Farming Systems
Main Article Content
Abstract
Plicatulum grass is a high-potential forage crop. However, achieving high yield and quality requires appropriate soil management, particularly in organic agriculture that prioritizes soil amendment with organic matter. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of soil management combined with peanut intercropping on the yield of plicatulum grass in an organic system. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments and four replications was employed: (T1) control, (T2) farmer's method (organic fertilizer), (T3) peanut intercropping, (T4) peanut intercropping + farmer's method, (T5) nutrient management based on lost biomass, and (T6) peanut intercropping + nutrient management based on lost biomass. The results indicated that peanut intercropping with nutrient management based on lost biomass (T6) tends to increase soil organic matter content. Additionally, available phosphorus and available water capacity were significantly enhanced. This treatment also resulted in a marked increase in nitrogen and potassium accumulation in the grass, leading to the highest yield and improved protein quality, shifting from low to medium levels. Therefore, peanut intercropping with nutrient management based on loss biomass is a recommended practice for farmers.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
King Mongkut's Agricultural Journal
References
Animal Feed Development Division. (2023). Quality Forage Plants. Department of Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. (in Thai).
Asha, D. S., Sanwal, P., Dagar, S., & Dagar, H. (2023). Impact of organic farming practices on soil organic matter: a review. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science, 35(19), 1599-1603.
Aydinsakir, K., Buyuktas, D., Dinc, N., & Karaca, C. (2015). Impact of salinity stress on growing, seedling development and water consumption of peanut (Arachis hypogaea cv. NC-7). Akdeniz Universitesi Ziraat Fakultesi Dergisi, 28(2), 77-84.
Department of Livestock Development. (2004). Dried Forage Standards. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. (in Thai).
Khangura, R., Ferris, D., Wagg, C., & Bowyer, J. (2023). Regenerative agriculture - a literature review on the practices and mechanisms used to improve soil health. Sustainability, 15(3), 2338. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032338.
Liu, Y., Lan, X., Hou, H., Ji, J., Liu, X., & Lv, Z. (2024a). Multifaceted ability of organic fertilizers to improve crop productivity and abiotic stress tolerance: review and perspectives. Agronomy, 14(6), 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061141
Liu, Z., Nan, Z., Lin, S., Meng, W., Xie, L., Yu, H., Zhang, Z., & Wan, S. (2024b). Peanut-based intercropping systems altered soil bacterial communities, potential functions, and crop yield. The Journal of Life and Environmental Sciences, 12(1), 16907. http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16907.
Mao, J., Wang, P., Xiao, C. L., Wu, J. P., Zhang, W. P., He, J. R., Lambers, H., & Li, L. (2023). Rhizobium inoculation improves yield advantages and soil Olsen phosphorus by enhancing interspecific facilitation in intercropping. Plant Soil, 506(1), 359-373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06425-5.
Marques, B. d. S., Costa, K. A. d. P., do Nascimento, H. L. B., Bilego, U. O., Hara, E., Tavares, R. L. M., Cabral, J. S. R., da Silva, L. M., Bento, J. C., de Morais, B. F., Costa, A. C., & Paim, T. D. P. (2024). Efficiency of desiccation, biomass production, and nutrient accumulation in zuri and quenia guinea grasses in integrated crop–livestock systems and second-crop maize. Plants, 13(22), 3250. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13223250.
Office of Science for Land Development. (2004a). Manual Analysis of Soil Samples for Water, Fertilizer, Soil Improvement Materials and Analysis for Product Certification, Volume I. Department of Land Development. (in Thai).
Office of Science for Land Development. (2004b). Manual Analysis of Soil Samples for Water, Fertilizer, Soil Improvement Materials and Analysis for Product Certification, Volume II. Department of Land Development. (in Thai).
Office of the Royal Society. (2019). Royal Institute's Dictionary of Soil Science Terms. Office of the Royal Society. (in Thai).
Onthong, J. (2022). Soil and Plant Analysis. Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkhla University. (in Thai).
Onthong, J., & Poonpakdee, C. (2020). Soil and Plant Analysis Guide. Department of Earth Science Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkhla University. (in Thai).
Osotsapar, Y. (2009). Plants Nutrient. Kasetsart University. (in Thai).
Peng, G., Tuo, Z., Xing-yu, L., Xin-wei, C., Yao-xiong, L., Peng-fei, F., Shi-ping, L., Jing, H., Ju-sheng, G., Zhen-hua, Z., & Hui-min, Z. (2023). Improvement of soil fertility and rice yield after long-term application of cow manure combined with inorganic fertilizers. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 22(7), 2221-2232.
Philp, J. N. M., Vance, W., Bell, R. W., Chhay, T., Boyd, D., Phimphachanhvongsod, V., & Denton, M. D. (2019). Forage options to sustainably intensify smallholder farming systems on tropical sandy soils a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 39(3), 30-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-019-0576-0.
Pinto, P., Cartoni-Casamitjana, S., Cureton, C., Stevens, A. W., Stoltenberg, D. E., Zimbric, J., & Picasso, V. D. (2022). Intercropping legumes and intermediate wheatgrass increases forage yield, nutritive value, and profitability without reducing grain yields. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 6(1), 977841. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2022.977841.
Potash Development Association. (2005). Nutrient Requirements of Forage Crops. Retrieved from: www.pda.org.uk/pda_leaflets/26-nutrient-requirements-of-forage-crops.
Shah, A. N., Iqbal, J., Ullah, A., Yang, G., Yousaf, M., Fahad, S., Tanveer, M., Hassan, W., Tung, S. A., Wang, L., Khan, A., & Wu, Y. (2016). Allelopathic potential of oil seed crops in production of crops: a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23(1), 14854-14867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6969-6.
Soil Survey and Soil Resources Research Division. (2017). Soil Series of Eastern and Southern Regions: Basic Knowledge for Agriculture. Land Development Department. (in Thai).
Stagnari, F., Maggio, A., Galieni, A., & Pisante, M. (2017). Multiple benefits of legumes for agriculture sustainability: an overview. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, 4(1), 2-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-016-0085-1.
Tramacere, L. G., Antichi, D., Mele, M., Ragaglini, G., & Mantino, A. (2024). Effects of intercropping on the herbage production of a binary grass‑legume mixture (Hedysarum coronarium L. and Lolium multiflorum Lam.) under artificial shade in Mediterranean rainfed conditions. Agroforestry Systems, 98(1), 1445-1460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01012-8.
Vaithanomsat, P., Thongsuntie, P., Khomkamon, P., & Srichana, D. (2015). Forage crops as substrate for animal feed and ethanol production in Thailand. African Journal of Biotechnology, 14(2), 119-124. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB2014.14264
Whiteman, P. C. (1980). Tropical Pasture Science. Oxford University Press.
Xing, Y., Li, Y., Zhang, F., & Wang, X. (2024). Appropriate application of organic fertilizer can effectively improve soil environment and increase maize yield in loess plateau. Agronomy, 14(5), 993. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050993.
