Title: Role of Upland Rice on Sustainability and Food Security of Sugarcane Production System
Abstract: This experiment aimed to study the effects on soil chemical properties of some proceeding crops grown in rotation during the gap period between the last ratoon cane harvest and the next sugarcane planting. The experimental design was RCBD with 4 replications. The implemented treatments were: (i) control (ii) upland rice (iii) soybean and (iv) sunn hemp. During the preceding crops growing period, soils (0-15 cm) were sampled at the week 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 after planting for soil mineral N analysis. At the final preceding crop harvest, soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm soil depth for chemical analysis and the crops were evaluated for yields, the stovers were collected and incorporated before sugarcane planting. Obtained results revealed that soil in this experiment was sandy soil and low in fertility. During the preceding crops growing period, soil mineral N of all treatments at 0-15 cm soil depth were higher than those before the preceding crop planting, especially upland rice and soybean treatments. At the final harvest, the upland rice treatment had grain yield of 2.86 t ha-1. Soil data at harvest before sugarcane planting indicated that organic matters were not significantly different among treatments. However the upland rice treatment had considerably higher available P content than the other treatments. Moreover upland rice treatment provided the highest exchangeable Ca but it was not significantly different from those in the control and sunn hemp treatments. Thus, upland rice is one of the alternative crops that can be grown as a preceding crop before the next sugarcane planting cycle. It would not only increase the economical income of the farmer but also provide more household food supply and thus might lead to enhance food security in sugarcane cropping system.
Publication Year: 2014
Publication Date: 2014-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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